Cycle ABC Ash Wednesday

2/18/2015 Confession 

Scripture Cuttings:

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love....

Psalm 51:1-17 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 ...we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them;

Psalm 51:1-17   

Leader:    Have mercy on me, O God,

Women:    according to your steadfast love;

Men:    according to your abundant mercy

Women:    blot out my transgressions.

Men:    Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

Women:    and cleanse me from my sin.

Men:    For I know my transgressions,

Women:    and my sin is ever before me.

Men:    Against you, you alone, have I sinned,

Women:    and done what is evil in your sight,

Men:    so that you are justified in your sentence

Women:    and blameless when you pass judgment.

Men:    Indeed, I was born guilty,

Women:    a sinner when my mother conceived me.

Men:    You desire truth in the inward being;

Women:    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Men:    Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Women:    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Men:    Let me hear joy and gladness;

Women:    let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

Men:    Hide your face from my sins,

Women:    and blot out all my iniquities.

Men:    Create in me a clean heart, O God,

Women:    and put a new and right spirit within me.

Men:    Do not cast me away from your presence,

Women:    and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Men:    Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

Women:    and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Men:    Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

Women:    and sinners will return to you.

Men:    Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,

Women:    O God of my salvation,

Men:    and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

Women:    O Lord, open my lips,

Men:    and my mouth will declare your praise.

Women:    For you have no delight in sacrifice;

Men:    if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

All:    The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;

          a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. -New Revised Standard Version