Father, in this Ash Wednesday Service, may we see Jesus’ example of gentle service; but, more than that, through Jesus’ words about what His example means and through Paul’s words about how we are led by the Spirit, give us the desire and the power to gently serve others. We ask in the name of Jesus, who is gentle and humble in heart. Amen!

Father, send Your Holy Spirit through the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection that we might experience the glory of real and eternal Life today, tomorrow, and forever. We ask in the name of Jesus, the point and purpose of all of Holy Scripture, and the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!

Father, we are weary of this world’s struggles and of our attempts to acquire rest by ourselves. Through the message of Your dear Son’s death for our sins and resurrection for our justification give us new and eternal Life right now, life free of the fear of judgment today, and free from the anxiety of being judged on the Last Day. We ask in the name of Him who died the death we deserved and and was raised to Life that we might be given present and eternal Life, free of any accusation, the Same Christ Jesus who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!

Father, send Your Holy Spirit through the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection that our soul thirst might be satisfied to such an extent that out of the depths of our being a rushing river of living water flows, quenching the thirst in our families, in our friends, in our communities, yes, and, even in our thirsting world. We ask in the name of Jesus, the Source of living water, and the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!

Father, we experience Your just verdict of condemnation for the wrong, hurtful, and self-justifying sins we repeatedly and frequently commit. But, because Jesus took our condemnation on Himself at the cross, forgive us and renew us in Your unconditional love. We ask in the name of Him who died the death we deserved, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!

Father, send Your Holy Spirit that we might look and see Jesus dying on the cross for us, and, thus, be totally renewed every day. We ask in the name of Jesus, Your Son, our Savior. Amen!

In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ miracles are called signs. Jesus miraculous signs are indeed signs of something very significant about Jesus, other than simply His divine power to do miracles. If Jesus’ miracles cease to be a sign signifying something and simply become an end in themselves, they produce a false and spurious faith; what I am calling miracle faith.

Father, as You sent Your Son into our world to be our Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world; now send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to transform us from the inside out through the message of Your dear Son’s death and resurrection. And, as the Holy Spirit has made us His temple when we were baptized into Christ’s body and we were all made to drink of one Spirit, enable us to see each other as Your home – the place where You, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit dwell. We pray in the name of Your dear Son, our Lamb, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Father, send Your Holy Spirit through message of Jesus’ being lifted up to draw all people to Himself as the Source of self-giving and Life-giving love. May we rejoice in that today, tomorrow, indeed, forever. We ask in the name of Your beloved Son, our crucified Lord, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!

Father, may we today experience again Messiah Jesus, the One who knows each of us better than we know ourselves. And, send Your Holy Spirit that we may trust that because He knows us to the very core of our being, He knows what we need to grow in our Christian faith and life, as well as in our witness to Him through our words and actions. We ask in the name of Jesus, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!