Announcements by the Celebrant

Opening Hymnal #142

1. Lord, who throughout these forty days

for us didst fast and pray,

teach us with thee to mourn our sins,

and close by thee to stay.

2. As thou with Satan didst contend

and didst the victory win,

O give us strength in thee to fight,

in thee to conquer sin.

3. As thou didst hunger bear and thirst,

so teach us, gracious Lord,

to die to self, and chiefly live

by thy most holy word.

4. And through these days of penitence,

and through thy Passiontide,

yea, evermore, in life and death,

Jesus! with us abide.

5. Abide with us, that so, this life

of suffering overpast,

an Easter of unending joy

we may attain at last!

Ash Wednesday Liturgy

Book of Common Prayer page 264
The people stand

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray.

The Collect for Ash Wednesday

Celebrant: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lessons (please sit)

A reading from the Book of Isaiah 58:1-12

Shout out, do not hold back!
Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

Announce to my people their rebellion,
to the house of Jacob their sins.

Yet day after day they seek me
and delight to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness
and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;

they ask of me righteous judgments,
they delight to draw near to God.

"Why do we fast, but you do not see?
Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?"

Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day,
and oppress all your workers.

Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
and to strike with a wicked fist.

Such fasting as you do today
will not make your voice heard on high.

Is such the fast that I choose,
a day to humble oneself?

Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?

Will you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;

your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.

Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm is 103:8-14,

Reader and People (said seated, read in unison):

8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, * slow to anger and of great kindness.

9 He will not always accuse us, * nor will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, * nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, * so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, * so far has he removed our sins from us.

13 As a father cares for his children, * so does the Lord care for those who fear him.

14 For he himself knows whereof we are made; * he remembers that we are but dust.

Reader: A reading from 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as

impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gradual Hymnal #143

1. The glory of these forty days

we celebrate with songs of praise;

for Christ, through whom all things were made,

himself has fasted and has prayed.

2. Alone and fasting Moses saw

the loving God who gave the law;

and to Elijah, fasting, came the steeds

and chariots of flame.

3. So Daniel trained his mystic sight,

delivered from the lions’ might;

and John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became

the herald of Messiah’s name.

4. Then grant us, Lord, like them to be

full oft in fast and prayer with thee;

our spirits strengthen with thy grace,

and give us joy to see thy face.

5. O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,

to thee be every prayer addressed,

who art in threefold Name adored,

from age to age, the only Lord.

Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (6:1-6, 16-21)

People: Praise to you, Lord Christ

Jesus said, "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon (please sit) The Rev. Michele Causton

All stand.

Celebrant: Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forthin the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.

Silence is then kept for a time, all kneeling.

Celebrant: Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

The ashes are imposed with the following words

Celebrant: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Psalm 51 (seated, read only by the deacon)

1. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; * in your great compassion blot out my offenses.

2. Wash me through and through from my wickedness *

and cleanse me from my sin.

3. For I know my transgressions, *

and my sin is ever before me.

4. Against you only have I sinned *

and done what is evil in your sight.

5. And so you are justified when you speak *

and upright in your judgment

6. Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *

a sinner from my mother's womb.

7. For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *

and will make me understand wisdom secretly.

8. Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *

wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.

9. Make me hear of joy and gladness, *

that the body you have broken may rejoice.

10. Hide your face from my sins *

and blot out all my iniquities.

11. Create in me a clean heart, O God, *

and renew a right spirit within me.

12. Cast me not away from your presence *

and take not your holy Spirit from me.

13. Give me the joy of your saving help again *

and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

14. I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *

and sinners shall return to you.

15. Deliver me from death, O God, *

and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness, O God of my salvation.

16. Open my lips, O Lord, *

and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

17. Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice; *

but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.

18. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Litany of Penitence

The Priest and People together, all kneeling, if you are able.

Most holy and merciful Father: We confess to you and to one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on earth, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

Priest: We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.

People: Have mercy on us, Lord.

Priest: We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.

People: Have mercy on us, Lord.

Priest: We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives,

People: We confess to you, Lord.

Priest: Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people

People: We confess to you, Lord.

Priest: Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,

People: We confess to you, Lord.

Priest: Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,

People: We confess to you, Lord.

Priest: Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us

People: We confess to you, Lord.

Priest: We repent on behalf of our world for its rampant violence and greed. We pray for peace and reconciliation. Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,

People: Accept our repentance, Lord.

Priest: For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,

People: Accept our repentance, Lord.

Priest: For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us,

People: Accept our repentance, Lord.

Priest: Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us;

People: Favorably hear us, for your mercy is great.

Priest: Accomplish in us the work of your salvation,

People: That we may show forth your glory in the world.

Priest: By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord,

People: Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.

Priest: Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desires not the death of sinners, but rather that they may turn from their wickedness and live, has given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardons and absolves all those who truly repent, and with sincere hearts believe his holy Gospel.

Therefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do on this day, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Priest: The peace of the Lord be always with you

People: And also with you.

The Peace is then exchanged.

The OffertorySentence

Offertory Anthem (or Hymn 140)

1. Wilt thou forgive that sin, where I begun,

which is my sin, though it were done before?

Wilt thou forgive those sins through which I run,

and do run still, though still I do deplore?

When thou hast done, thou hast not done,

for I have more.

2. Wilt thou forgive that sin, by which I won

others to sin, and made my sin their door?

Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun

a year or two, but wallowed in a score?

When thou hast done, thou hast not done,

for I have more.

3. I have a sin of fear that when I've spun

my last thread, I shall perish on the shore;

swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son

shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore.

And having done that, thou hast done,

I fear no more.

The Doxology Hymnal #380 v.3

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heavenly host:

praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Eucharistic Prayer A

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

People:  We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People:  It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Celebrant: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever say this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

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.                                                                                                       

The people stand or kneel.

Celebrant: Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

Celebrant: We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

People and Celebrant:

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.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.

Celebrant: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

People: Therefore let us keep the feast.

Agnus Dei

Celebrant: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:

People: Have mercy on us.

Celebrant: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:

People: Have mercy on us.

Celebrant: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:

People: Grant us peace.

The Invitation

In the Episcopal tradition, all are welcomed to the Table. All baptized Christians may receive Communion, or you may cross your arms over your chest and simply receive a blessing.

Celebrant: The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

Communion Hymnal #574

1. Before thy throne, O God, we kneel:

give us a conscience quick to feel,

a ready mind to understand

the meaning of thy chastening hand;

whate'er the pain and shame may be,

bring us, O Father, nearer thee.

2. Search out our hearts and make us true;

help us to give to all their due.

From love of pleasure, lust of gold,

from sins which make the heart grow cold,

wean us and train us with thy rod;

teach us to know our faults, O God.

3. For sins of heedless word and deed,

for pride ambitious to succeed,

for crafty trade and subtle snare

to catch the simple unaware,

for lives bereft of purpose high,

forgive, forgive, O Lord, we cry.

4. Let the fierce fires which burn and try,

our inmost spirits purify:

consume the ill; purge out the shame

O God, be with us in the flame;

a newborn people may we rise,

more pure, more true, more nobly wise.

Post-Communion Prayer – BCP pg. 366
Celebrant: Let us pray
Celebrant and People:

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Blessing

Dismissal

Please exit in silence.