The Prayer of the Day
Almighty and ever-living God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are
penitent. Create in us new and honest hearts, so that, truly repenting of our sins, we may receive from
you, the God of all mercy, full pardon and forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Worship Insight
On Ash Wednesday we begin our forty-day journey toward Easter with a day of fasting and repentance. Marking our foreheads with dust, we acknowledge that we die and return to the earth. At the same time, the dust traces the life-giving cross indelibly marked on our foreheads at baptism. While we journey through Lent to return to God, we have already been reconciled to God through Christ. We humbly pray for God to make our hearts clean while we rejoice that “now is the day of salvation.” Returning to our baptismal call, we more intentionally bear the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.
