Ash Wednesday

Introduction Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. All: And also with you

Today we bless ashes and put them on our foreheads. They are reminders of our sinfulness and of our littleness before God. These ashes were once the palms of last Palm Sunday. So they are also ashes of hope. We wear them to remind us that we are part of the creation of God. We are made by him, as is the earth and its dust, for life. In wearing these ashes we are all equal: men and women, young and old, teacher and student; all who work and study in this college are equal in the sight of God. We all wear the same ashes.

These ashes have no value except in the sight of God. They are nothing but dust. We are nothing without God: in him we live and move and have our being.

THE COLLECT PRAYER The priest says the prayer which collects together our thoughts on the mass today. Let us pray

THE FIRST READING

Priest: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to All: Glory to you, O Lord. Gospel:

Priest : This is the Gospel of the Lord. All : Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Bidding Prayers

Response : Lord Graciously Hear Us

The Hail Mary Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

THE BLESSING OF THE ASHES

Blessing of the Ashes We ask God to bless these ashes, Which we will use as the mark of our redemption. Reader 1. Dust to dust and ashes to ashes; may we remember this day that we come from God and will go to God. Reader 2. Dust to dust and ashes to ashes; may we remember this day that we need the Lord ’ s forgiveness.

Reader 3. Dust to flowers and ashes to glory; may we remember this day that Jesus died and rose from death. The Blessing Lord, bless these ashes By which we show that we are dust. Pardon our sins and keep us faithful to the discipline of Lent, for you do not want sinners to die but to live with the risen Christ, who reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

- The priest then sprinkles the ashes with holy water and then places the ashes on those who come forward, saying to each: Remember you are dust And to dust you will return.

Reflection after receiving ashes

THE OFFERTORY The bread and wine are brought forward And prepared on the altar We will all sing

Hymn

Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life. All: Blessed be God for ever. Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink. All: Blessed be God for ever.

Priest: Pray, my brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. All: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his Church.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Priest: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you. Priest: Lift up your hearts. All: We lift them up to the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

At the end of the Preface we all say…. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: All: Dying you destroyed our death, Rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.

We say together THE OUR FATHER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The priest continues Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, And grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin And protect us from all anxiety As we wait in joyful hope For the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ. We all say For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.

The Sign of Peace Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever. Amen. Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

Sign of Peace “Peace be with you.”

THE LAMB OF GOD Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: Grant us peace.

Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper. All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

The Eucharistic minister will say, ‘ The Body of Christ’ You reply ‘AMEN’

Communion Reflection

Lent remembers the 40 days and nights that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness

For His 30 th Birthday Jesus gave Himself some time away from it all … the following shows how Jesus could have spent these 40 days… when he was tempted by the Devil

Prayer after Communion After the priest says the prayer all say: AMEN.

Final Reflection

I am giving you me

Concluding rite The Lord be with you. AND ALSO WITH YOU. May almighty God bless you, The Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.