Good morning.
Today is Wednesday,
February 17th,
2021.
Ash Wednesday.
Oh Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three in one creator,
Redeemer,
And sustainer.
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever.
Amen.
Come let us bow down and worship.
Let us kneel before the Lord,
Our maker.
Remind yourself that you are in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on a word or a phrase that catches your attention or moves your heart and let your heart respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Hear the cry of your children,
The Lord.
Come quickly and set us free.
Our reading today is John four verses 31 through 38.
Meanwhile,
The disciples were urging Jesus,
Rabbi,
Eat something.
But Jesus told them,
I have food to eat that you know nothing about.
At this,
The disciples said to one another,
Do you think someone has brought him something to eat?
Jesus explained to them,
Doing the will of the one who sent me and bringing this work to completion is my food.
Don't you have a saying four months more and it will be harvest time.
I tell you,
Open your eyes and look at the fields.
They are ripe and ready for harvest.
Reapers are already collecting their wages.
They're gathering fruit for eternal life and sower and reaper will rejoice together.
So the saying is true.
One person sows another reaps.
I have sent you to reap what you haven't worked for.
Others have done the work and you've come upon the fruits of their labor.
Please repeat these words.
Hear the cry of your children,
Lord.
Come quickly and set us free.
We pray today in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray.
Our father,
Which art in heaven,
Eternal God,
Earth maker,
Pain bearer,
Life giver,
Source of all that is and all that shall be not only father,
But mother of us all.
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your Commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another,
Forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
Strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure,
Spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil,
Free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love now and forever.
Amen.
Since today is Ash Wednesday,
We remember the words of Genesis 3 verse 19.
By the sweat of your brow,
You will eat bread until you return to the earth,
Just as you were taken from it.
You are dust and to dust you will return.
Praise be to God who gives beauty for ashes,
Hope in the morning and strength for today.
And now my friends,
May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness,
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
Go in peace.
