A for A Prayer for A Prayer for A Prayer for Ash Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday

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

The ashes are imposed in the shape The ashes are imposed in the shape The ashes are imposed in the shape The ashes are imposed in the shape of the cross with the following of the cross with the following of the cross with the following of the cross with the following words: words: words: words:

Remember that you are dust, Remember that you are dust, Remember that you are dust, Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. and to dust you shall return. and to dust you shall return. and to dust you shall return. And remember that you are And remember that you are And remember that you are And remember that you are precious in God’s sight. precious in God’s sight. precious in God’s sight. precious in God’s sight.

Read Read Psalm 51 Read Psalm 51 Read Psalm 51

You may also wish to read the You may also wish to read the You may also wish to read the You may also wish to read the Litany of Penitence (BCP 267). Litany of Penitence (BCP 267). Litany of Penitence (BCP 267). Litany of Penitence (BCP 267).

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Why Ashes? Why Ashes? Why Ashes? Why Ashes?

Ashes are an ancient sign of Ashes are an ancient sign of Ashes are an ancient sign of Ashes are an ancient sign of heartfelt faith. From the heartfelt faith. From the heartfelt faith. From the heartfelt faith. From the Middle Ages it became the Middle Ages it became the Middle Ages it became the Middle Ages it became the custom to begin by custom to begin Lent by custom to begin Lent by custom to begin Lent by being marked in ash with the being marked in ash with the being marked in ash with the being marked in ash with the . The sign of the cross. The sign of the cross. The sign of the cross. The reminder that we are dust reminder that we are dust reminder that we are dust reminder that we are dust turns our attention to the turns our attention to the turns our attention to the turns our attention to the creative power of God, and to creative power of God, and to creative power of God, and to creative power of God, and to God’s ability to heal the God’s ability to heal the God’s ability to heal the God’s ability to heal the brokenness in our lives when brokenness in our lives when brokenness in our lives when brokenness in our lives when we offer our brokenness to we offer our brokenness to we offer our brokenness to we offer our brokenness to God. God. God. God.

We offer ashes today as a We offer ashes today as a We offer ashes today as a We offer ashes today as a reminder that need, humility, reminder that need, humility, reminder that need, humility, reminder that need, humility, and healing shouldn’t be and healing shouldn’t be and healing shouldn’t be and healing shouldn’t be confined to a church building. confined to a church building. confined to a church building. confined to a church building.

The ashes we receive remind The ashes we receive remind The ashes we receive remind The ashes we receive remind us of our need for God. There us of our need for God. There us of our need for God. There us of our need for God. There is much more to the is much more to the is much more to the is much more to the beginning of Lent than ashes beginning of Lent than ashes beginning of Lent than ashes beginning of Lent than ashes alone, and we encourage you alone, and we encourage you alone, and we encourage you alone, and we encourage you to make time this Lent for to make time this Lent for to make time this Lent for to make time this Lent for worship, for the support of worship, for the support of worship, for the support of worship, for the support of others, and for the great others, and for the great others, and for the great others, and for the great traditions of faith in our work traditions of faith in our work traditions of faith in our work traditions of faith in our work of repentance and renewal. of repentance and renewal. of repentance and renewal. of repentance and renewal.

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Gracious God, We are grateful Gracious God, We are grateful Gracious God, We are grateful Gracious God, We are grateful for the gift of Lent. Thank you for the gift of Lent. Thank you for the gift of Lent. Thank you for the gift of Lent. Thank you for knowing our hearts and our for knowing our hearts and our for knowing our hearts and our for knowing our hearts and our need for seasons and rhythms need for seasons and rhythms need for seasons and rhythms need for seasons and rhythms that draw us closer to you. that draw us closer to you. that draw us closer to you. that draw us closer to you. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

God be with you this Lent. God be with you this Lent. God be with you this Lent. God be with you this Lent.