Breathe Again

Confession, Thanksgiving, and Praise 

after Psalm 51:1–17 

for Ash Wednesday 

I stop.

Drop to my knees. 

I can see,

I will look,

all the ways I have not

walked Your Way. 

By my shame

I am brought

to my knees; 

in my sorrow

I fold my head low,

for I know

You know

there is nothing left

but to confess. 

I confess. 

Hear me fairly, 

look through Your eyes

of lovingkindness

that see 

and then choose not

to see

so I may breathe 

again. 

I stop. 

Drop to my knees. 

I can hear,

I will listen, 

in the chamber of my 

secret heart – 

oh, meet me there,

Merciful One, 

and whisper joy,

promise grace

as you have of old,

and I will lift my eyes,

throw wide my arms

and let you in

where You – to my surprise

and my delight – have told me

You will dwell! 

I thank you: 

this freedom,

this life,

this begin anew. 

I thank you

as I breathe

again. 

I stop. 

Drop to my knees. 

I can speak,

I will sing,

Your story 

and your glory

shining, shimmering,

sparkling glass of bubbling gold 

that overflows! 

Come near,

people dear: 

come sing the Song of Life,

the Song of Joy! 

We praise You,

Source of Life;

we praise You,

Way of Life;

we praise You,

Breath of Life,

and we breathe

again. 

Return with all your heart

Joel 2:12–17 
Ash Wednesday 

Return to me with all your heart: 
return to me, calls Holy One.

Blow the trumpet, ring the bells,
call the people together:
call the older folk;
call the children – infants, teens
and all between;
call those preparing celebrations,
call those with sorrow and grief:

Return to me with all your heart: 
return to me, calls Holy One.

Call priests and ministers who weep

for their people, pleading with Holy One 

to remember though we have forgotten;

call prophets who see the world's rejection

of the ways of Wisdom and cry

with Holy One: return! 

Return to me with all your heart: 
return to me, calls Holy One. 

Call the people to fast and pray,

to change hearts and minds;

call the people, for Holy One is slow

to anger, and faithful in love! 

Call the people: turn back! 

Return to me with all your heart: 
return to me, calls Holy One. 

Return to me with all your heart: 
return to me, calls Holy One. 

of dust and ash

Matthew 6

all flit and flurry

no flow, no flourish, without

depth, dug into me

In secret

litany based on Matt 6:1–6, 16–21


Come into a secret room,
come away from the crowds
and the light.
Come into the secret room
of your heart, your depth,
your all.

Here you are met by God,
and God alone.
Here you confess to God,
and God alone.

In secret, name your hurts,
your fears: none will hear
but God.
In secret bear your scars,
your tears: none will see
but God.

Here you will need your courage,
beloved;
here you will need to be brave.
But there will be no fanfare,
beloved;
no heroes’ welcome as we look
only to ourselves.

Look closely, look with care
and attention, at your fullness
of humanity.
See and do not turn away
from what you have done or left
undone.

Look closely, look with care
and attention, in a mirror
of God’s deep loving;
look, be seen, and in this secret
place of honesty, find hope,
and healing, and humility.