Ash Wednesday

Color: Purple
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Easter 4A or Easter 4B
Readings: Psalm Text: Psalm 23 | Sermon Text: John 10:1-18 (The Good Shepherd)
Epistle Suggestion: 1 Peter 2:19-25
Prayer of the Day (WP): Loving God, your son came, and like a good shepherd, gave his life for your sheep. Receive our humble gratitude for this act of sacrifice and courage. Amen.

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #629. Abide with Me
ELW #349. Ah, Holy Jesus
ELW #652. Built on a Rock
ELW #605. Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive
ELW #532. Gather Us In
ELW #536. God Be with You Till We Meet Again
ELW #385. Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing!
ELW #526. God Is Here!
ELW #358. Great God, Your Love Has Called Us
ELW #253. He Came Down
ELW #530. Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather
ELW #620. How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
ELW #450. I Bind unto Myself Today
ELW #482. I Come with Joy
ELW #332. I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
ELW #650. In Christ There Is No East or West
ELW #502. The King of Love My Shepherd Is
ELW #778. The Lord’s My Shepherd
ELW #712. Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
ELW #782. My Shepherd, You Supply My Need
ELW #343. My Song Is Love Unknown
ELW #351/2. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
ELW #789. Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us
ELW #608. Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
ELW #587/8. There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
ELW #635. We Walk by Faith
ELW #798. Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)
ELW #581. You Are Mine
ELW #484. You Satisfy the Hungry Heart (Gift of Finest Wheat)
LBW #501. He Leadeth Me: Oh, Blessed Thought!
LBW #324. O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
Various Hymnals Abundant Life
Various Hymnals Loving Shepherd of Thy sheep
Various Hymnals You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship;  LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Suggested hymns based on the companion text(s):

ELW #883. All People That on Earth Do Dwell
ELW #732. Borning Cry
ELW #879. For the Beauty of the Earth
ELW #733. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
ELW #325. I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
ELW #336. Lamb of God (Your Only Son)
ELW #768. Lead Me, Guide Me
ELW #858/9. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
ELW #780. Shepherd Me, O God
ELW #785. When Peace like a River (It Is Well with My Soul)
LBW #264. When All Your Mercies, O My God
Various Hymnals Author of life divine
Various Hymnals Surely Goodness and Mercy
Various Hymnals There’ll Be No Dark Valley
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship; LBW=Lutheran Book of Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Other (mostly contemporary) options based on both:

“Blessed Be Your Name” By Matt Redman, Beth Redman.
“Broken” By Michael Himes.
“If We Are The Body” By Mark Hall.
More contemporary suggestions here.

Prayers of Intercession:

(Introduction and Conclusion from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002)

Beloved friends, in this season of repentance and healing, we accept God’s invitation to be ever-mindful of the needs of others, offering our prayers on behalf of God’s community in the church and the world.

A brief silence.

Shepherd the church, O Lord; guide its mission and witness to the all the flocks of the world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Shepherd farms and ranches, O Lord; here in the north, bring plants and animals out of winter rest and into spring abundance. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Shepherd the nations, O Lord; guide us all in the ways of peace and reconciliation. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Shepherd us, O Lord; that we may better follow you and hear your voice. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Shepherd the lost and hurting, O Lord; bring them your healing presence and peace. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Shepherd the faithful dead, O Lord; and bring us all into the glory of your sheepfold. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Fill us with your strength to resist the seductions of our foolish desires and the tempter’s vain delights, that we may walk in obedience and righteousness, rejoicing in you with an upright heart. Amen.