A Rite of for the beginning of Lent
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and sustain in me a willing spirit. Ps 51:12
Preparation for Lent
Dear friend in Christ, in beginning our Lenten observance, on this Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of our baptism, and how Christ’s death on the cross may clearly be shown in our lives. We now come before God in penitence, reflecting on our life in Christ. We pledge ourselves to observe this season of self- examination, discipline, and self-denial with sincerity, prayer, and reverent reflection on holy Scripture, seeking God’s purpose for us, and modelling our lives on the example of Christ Jesus.
Kyries
Lord, have mercy. Lord, Have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Reading: Joel 2:12-17
Let us pray for grace to keep Lent faithfully.
God of mercy and giver of comfort, 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, lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect forgiveness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Verses from Psalm 51
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgement.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
11 and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21
As a sign of the spirit of penitence with which we shall keep this season of preparation for Easter, I invite you to make the mark of Christ’s cross, on your forehead, with which we are signed at Baptism, and by which we are forgiven our sins and live to the glory of God. Saying:
Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Repent and believe the Gospel.
Absolution
May God, who is both power and love, forgive us (+), and free us from our sins; heal and strengthen us by his Spirit, and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord God Almighty, your people are washed clean in the saving flood of baptism, and born again: as we follow the way of the cross, we ask you to unseal for us the wellspring of your grace, cleanse our hearts of all that is not holy, and cause your gift of new life to flourish in us; grant this through Jesus Christ your Son, who sets us free from sin, and lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God, world without end. Amen.
Father of all, we give you thanks and praise that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ's body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Forty days and forty nights
Thou wast fasting in the wild,
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted and yet undefiled.
Blessing
Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow him; and may the blessing of God, almighty (+) the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us and remain with us always. Amen.