O Lord,
who hast taught us that all our doings without charity
are nothing worth;
Send thy Holy Spirit,
and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity,
the very bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee;
Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake.

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God,
you have given your only Son to be for us
both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life:
Give us grace
that we may always most thankfully receive
these his inestimable gifts,
and also daily endeavour ourselves
to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1st Reading Joel 2: 1–2, 12–17
210 Holy God of righteous glory
538 O Lord, the clouds are gathering

Alternative Isaiah 58: 1–12 [5LA]
1st Reading 647* Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
125* Hail to the Lord’s anointed
535* Judge eternal, throned in splendour
592* O Love that wilt not le me go
712* Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
497 The Church of Christ in every age
510 We pray for peace

Psalm Psalm 51: 1–18
630* Blessed are the pure in heart
297* Come, thou Holy Spirit, come
614* Great shepherd of your people, hear
208 Hearken, O Lord, have mercy upon us
553* Jesu, lover of my soul
305 O Breath of life, come sweeping through us
638* O for a heart to praise my God
557* Rock of ages, cleft for me

2nd Reading 2 Corinthians 5: 20b–6: 10
643* Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
566* Fight the good fight with all thy might
352* Give thanks with a grateful heart
417 He gave his life in selfless love
322 I bind unto myself today (* vv, 1, 2, 8 & 9)
587* Just as I am, without one plea
652* Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
487* Soldiers of Christ, arise
488* Stand up, stand up for Jesus

The Gospel Matthew 6: 1–6, 16–21
207* Forty days and forty nights
646* Glorious things of thee are spoken
619* Lord, teach us how to pray aright
363* O Lord of heaven and earth and sea
625 Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire