Uniting Church Logo
  • About
    • News
    • Our Church
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our People
    • Get Involved
    • Find Your Church
    • 16th Assembly
  • Circles of Interest
    • Walking Together as First and Second Peoples
    • Being a Multicultural Church
    • Discipling the Next Generations
    • Growing in Faith
    • Seeking Common Ground
    • Transforming Worship
    • Working For Justice
  • Specific Ministry Areas
    • Our Covenant with First Peoples
      • UAICC
      • Covenanting Resources
    • Intercultural Ministry
      • Language Resources
    • Uniting Disaster Recovery
    • Justice
    • Emerging Generations
  • Assembly Agencies
    • Frontier Services
    • UnitingCare Australia
    • UnitingWorld
  • National Committees and Ministries
    • Adult Fellowship
    • Defence Force Chaplaincy
    • National Safe Church Unit
    • Standards for Ministries Committee
    • UCA National History Society
  • Other Important Connections
    • Uniting Church Synods
    • Seeking Redress
    • Aged Care Royal Commission
    • Disability Royal Commission
  • Downloadable Resources
    • Covenanting Resources
    • Doctrine Resources
    • Disability Access Guidelines
    • Language Resources
    • Regulations and Policies
    • Justice Resources
    • Worship Resources
    • All Resources
  • Home
  • About
    • Assembly People
    • Our Logo
  • Our Work
    • Assembly Strategic Plan 2020 – 2023
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact us
16th Assembly
UCA Act2

A prayer for Ash Wednesday

March 2, 2022

Today Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and the journey toward Holy Week. This is a holy day too, when many of us will hear again ancient words of the fragility of life and of grace – that God has formed us ‘from the dust of the earth’, that we are mortal, and yet in God’s hands we remain. May this new season of the church be a time of deep reflection and meaning pointing us to new life.

Assembly National Consultant Rev Lindsay Cullen has offered this prayer, as today we also join with others across the world in praying for peace in Ukraine and other parts of our beloved yet hurting and ashen world.


Loving God,
Sometimes we look around the world and we see ash.
 
In Australia we may see the results of bushfires — ashen trunks, blackened grass and burnt limbs.
In Ukraine. we see ruined buildings, rubble and wounded people.
In Queensland, we see loss of life and livelihoods, homes and precious items due to floods.
In Tonga, we see the aftermath of volcanic eruption - the struggle to rebuild, to clean up ash, and provide clean water.
 
And sometime the ash we see is in our lives.
Broken relationships, lost jobs, lost homes, lost hopes and dreams.
The ashes of grief in the loss of loved ones.
 
Today we are invited to consider ashes as an entry into a period of contemplation and repentance,
of focus and consideration of the suffering and the faithfulness of Jesus.
We may be marked or mark ourselves with an ashen sign of the cross,
to remember that we are marked by our discipleship and commitment to follow Christ.
 
And we are reminded that Jesus shared our human journey.
That God in Christ also experienced loss, grief, terror and oppression.
 
And there is green.
Green shoots from ashen trees.
Compassion, solidarity and rebuilding in times of national and global tragedy.
Caring, sharing and the possibility of healing in our personal tragedies.
 
In many Christian traditions, the ashes are created from the green leaves of Palm Sunday,
which will return again this year.
The Ash of this day, and the repentance and contemplation of Lent will in time
give way to the vindication and joy of Easter.
 
But for now, we see ash.
 
By your Spirit be with us in this Ash Wednesday.
Through Jesus, lead us through the season of Lent.
Inspire us, loving God, to mirror your care and compassion for all,
and seek the way of peace and justice,
when we look around the world and we see ash.
 
In the name of Christ we pray,
Amen.

Get the Uniting Church story first, direct to your inbox

* indicates required

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Disability Access Guidelines
© 2020 Uniting Church in Australia - All Rights Reserved

  • faka-Tonga
  • Vosa Vakaviti
  • gagana fa'a Samoa
  • 한국어
  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • Tiếng Việt
  • 中文 (简体)
  • Tagalog
  • العربية‏
  • Español