Ash Wednesday Liturgy of the ashes

(courtesy of Denise Braddon, Sandhurst Director of Liturgy)

The preference is for 2 leaders to share the ministry of prayer.  This provides a good model for shared leadership within the community, and helps support the person providing the leadership of prayer.  It is possible to lead this with one leader, in which case, some of the prayers may be combined together, but the constant call response of the leader and community give a good rhythm to the prayer.  The prayer may be started in home rooms and then wait in silence, or with quiet music for the ashes to arrive, then conclude the prayer.   If you do not have ashes then you could replace the symbolic action of receiving ashes with the placing of a stone in water to show a softening of heart.  I have included a prayer to accompany both options here.

OPENING PRAYER

Leader1:        We gather this day in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

All:Amen

Leader2: May the grace and peace of God our Father, rest on us all now and forever and ever.

All:Amen

Leader1:God our Companion,

Throughout history you have brought your people back to you. 

Again and again you forgave your people with a generous love beyond our understanding.

As we begin our Lenten journey, may we know your constant care and protection.

Our Diocese reminds us, this year, that the journey of Saint Paul begins with conversion, and Lent calls us all to turn back to God.

During the special season of preparation may we spend more time in prayer, give to those who do not have as much as we do and fast so others may live.

This we ask through Christ you Son, living and reigning forever and ever

All: Amen

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading:           Joel 2:12-18

Psalm: Psalm 51

Second Reading:     2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Leader2:        This is the acceptable time, the day of our salvation. Let us turn to God in prayer for all in need.  Our response to the prayer is Lord hear our prayer

Reader1:        We pray that all Christians will turn back to God with a sincere and sorry heart.  May our hearts be sorry for anyway we hurt others.  Lord hear us

All:      Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader2:        That nations will work for peace.  May we begin by bringing peace to our homes.  Lord hear us.

All:      Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader3:        That those who are poor and destitute will find us generous and compassionate.  May we always look for the help we can give to those less blessed than we are.  Lord hear us

All:      Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader4:        That God’s grace will be enough for those who desire reward and acclaim for their deeds.  May our good deeds be done quietly.  Lord hear us

All:      Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader5:        That those who have gone before us will reach their eternal reward, and with all the saints pray with us during our Lenten time.  May our Lenten prayers be for those who have died and those left behind to grieve.  Lord hear us

All:      Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader1:        Let us join these prayers in the words Jesus has left us.

All:      Our Father…

DISTRIBUTION OF ASHES or SYMBOLIC ACTION

PRAYER FOR DISTRIBUTION OF THE ASHES

Leader 2:    These ashes have been made from the ashes of the palms used

                     for Palm Sunday last year.The ashes of the past bless us for the future.  Our local parish community have received these ashes blessed in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

                     Lord, help us during the Lenten season and bless with your forgiving touch all those who receive these ashes.  Help us to forgiving, thoughtful and generous people.

The 2 leaders distribute the ashes, or a single person and companion take them to home rooms.  A suggestion may be made to the children that they each make the sign of the cross after they have received the ashes.  The person given out the ashes will say:

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.

Leader1:        Now we have received the ashes let us turn to one another and offer each other a sign of peace.

or

PRAYER FOR SYMBOLIC ACTION    (When there is no ashes available)

Leader2:        Ash Wednesday calls us to give up our hardness of heart and turn to God.  You are invited to come to the water and add a     stone to the waters of baptism representing our hardness.  Let us ask in our hearts for the one thing that we need God to soften in our lives this Lent. 

First let us acknowledge God’s presence in the gift of water.

Leader1:        Blessed are you, O God, Creator of the universe and all things within it.

At the beginning of time you separated the waters and brought forth land.  In the waters of the Red Sea you showed your love for your people by making a pathway for us to follow. 

In the River Jordon you named you Son and blessed us all with the Spirit of Baptism.

Our earth is hungry for the waters of life, to nourish and refresh. 

Fed and refresh our souls with this water, fallen from heaven. 

May our souls and our work be blessed by  this water which represents our waters of Baptism.

We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever

All:      Amen

CLOSING PRAYER

Leader2:        Our final prayers today remind us that during this time of Lent, we are all on the journey to Easter. 

It is the common call of Jesus that unites us all and the common nature of Lent that makes us all penitent people.  We all work our way through Lent by taking on fasting, prayer and almsgiving. 

Leader1:        Jesus spent 40 days in the desert in prayer.  Will you each set time aside during this season of Lent to spend in prayer?

All:Yes, I will.

Leader2:        This season calls us to fast in preparation for the great feast of Easter.  Will you each think about the things you eat and drink over this season, and choose to give up some of the richness of the land, in company with those who fast without choice?

All:Yes, I will.

Leader1:        Almsgiving is a call across all religious traditions.  Will you each actively give that others may have enough?

All:Yes, I will.

Leader2:        In Lent we take on good works.  Will you each look for the good you can do and seek ways of doing good without thanks?

All:Yes, I will.

Leader1:        With these desires in our hearts, let us all go out to the world, committed to doing the good God calls us each to. 

May we grow closer to Christ in preparation for his resurrection, so that we may rise with him into the new life we will build during this season of Lent. 

Leader2:        And may we go in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

All:Amen.

READINGS FOR ASH WEDNESDAY

First Reading    Joel 2:12-18

A reading from the prophet Joel

‘Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –

come back to me with all your heart,

fasting, weeping, mourning.’

Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn,

turn to the Lord your God again,

for he is all tenderness and compassion,

slow to anger, rich in graciousness,

and ready to relent.

Who knows if he will not turn again, will not relent,

will not leave a blessing as he passes,

oblation and libation

for the Lord your God?

Sound the trumpet in Zion!

Order a fast,

proclaim a solemn assembly,

call the people together,

summon the community,

assemble the elders,

gather the children,

even the infants at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom

and the bride her alcove.

Between vestibule and altar let the priests,

the ministers of the Lord, lament.

Let them say,

‘Spare your people, Lord!

Do not make your heritage a thing of shame,

a byword for the nations.

Why should it be said among the nations,

“Where is their God?”’

Then the Lord, jealous on behalf of his land,

took pity on his people.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm    Ps 50:3-6. 12-14. 17. R. v.3

(R.) Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

1.         Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

            In your compassion blot out my offence.

            O wash me more and more from my guilt

            and cleanse me from my sin. (R.)

2.         My offences truly I know them;

            my sin is always before me.

            Against you, you alone, have I sinned:

            what is evil in your sight I have done. (R.)

3.         A pure heart create for me, O God,

            put a steadfast spirit within me.

            Do not cast me away from your presence,

            nor deprive me of your holy spirit. (R.)

4.         Give me again the joy of your help;

            with a spirit of fervour sustain me.

            O Lord, open my lips

            and my mouth shall declare your praise. (R.)

Second Reading    2 Cor 5:20-6:2

A reading from the second letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God. As his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have received. For he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.

The word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation    

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

If today you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

Gospel    Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Music Suggestions

A New Heart For A New World 

 A Trusting Psalm  

Again We Keep

This Solemn Fast    

Amazing Grace

Ashes  

Change Our Hearts

Deep Within 

Though the Mountains May Fall    

Unless A Grain Of Wheat    

We Are Called 

Without Seeing You