Ash Wednesday

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

Today begins the season of Lent – a journey of reflection and repentance that will bring us to the celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter time.
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Gracious and merciful God, You look with love upon a sinful people and desire only our return to You. I beg of you the grace to live this holy season, to persevere in prayer, self-denial, and almsgiving. Through the disciplines of Lent, purify my heart of all pretension, bring me back to You, and make the whole Church ready to celebrate the mysteries of Easter.

Grant this through Christ, our liberator from sin, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Old Testament: Joel 2:12-18 (NLT)

The Lord says,

“Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.”

Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before.

Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Gather all the people — the elders, the children, and even the babies. Call the bridegroom from his quarters and the bride from her private room. Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar.

Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, ‘Has the God of Israel left them?’”

Then the Lord will pity his people and jealously guard the honor of his land.

A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17 (NLT)

For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner — yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
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Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
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Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
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The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
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A Reading from the Letters: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 (NLT)

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”

Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 (NLT)

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do — blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
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“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Intercessions:

Our God is full of mercy and compassion – Lord help us:

+ That God’s people scattered throughout the world – particularly those who are signed with ashes today – may turn back to God during this Lenten season…. Lord, hear my prayer.
+ That those who have grown lukewarm, or drifted far away, may return to God and find new enthusiasm in their faith…. Lord, hear my prayer.
+ That people in need throughout the world may benefit from our Lenten sacrifices of prayer, of self, of generosity…. Lord, hear my prayer.
+ That, during this Lenten season, we may learn to set our own interests aside and work for the good of others…. Lord, hear my prayer.

God of mercy and compassion, you cleanse us and give us your help: hear my prayers made in faith, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: God of Mercy and Compassion

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
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LENT (wikipedia) is a solemn religious observance in the liturgical calendar of many Christian denominations that begins on Ash Wednesday and covers a period of approximately six weeks before Easter Day.

The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, penance, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial – for the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the tradition and events of the New Testament beginning on Friday of Sorrows, further climaxing on Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, which ultimately culminates in the joyful celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The English word “Lent” was adopted for the season in the middle ages and simply referred, at that time, to the coming of spring with its lengthening days.