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Ash Wednesday Prayer Service

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Ash Wednesday Prayer Service presented by the Benedictine Leaders

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Ash Wednesday Prayer Service

Opening Prayer: Saundri Luippold 
Dear Lord, 
We thank you for allowing us to celebrate the beginning of Lent as a community. We ask for your love to wash over us and for your presence to touch each person watching this service. Allow us to center ourselves, bring ourselves wholly to you O Lord, and allow us to gain a closer connection with You through this prayerful event.  
Amen 
Reading:  
First Reading
Joel 2:1-2,12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12 Done by Daniella Fakhoury (11)
Psalm
Psalm 103 or 103:8-14 Done by Nicole Chakbazof (10)
Second Reading
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Done by Giovanna Albouz (10) Video Received
Gospel
Matthew 6:1-6,16-21 Done by Olivia Rizk (10)
Definition/ Background/ Explanation:
-Written by Keira Zoleta
Ash Wednesday or the “Day of Ashes” begins the forty days of Lent that includes repentance, fasting, reflection, abstinence, and celebration. Marking the head with ashes originated during the papacy of Gregory the Great. Ashes as a sign of penance were originally used for private denotation, but later on they became an official rite for reconciling penitents and that rite is present today. The ashes are put on the forehead to imitate the spiritual seal that is put on a person during Baptism and it reflects the earlier practices of making the sign of the cross, in which one use’s their thumb to furrow their brow with a small sign of the cross that is similarly used today before the reading of the Gospel during Mass. We receive ashes on Ash Wednesday to repent for our sins and that during the season of Lent we will correct our faults, stay away from temptation, and grow in holiness so that we are prepared to celebrate Easter with the Risen Jesus.

Reflection/Meaning:
-written by Sarah Gann
Ash Wednesday is an important holy day in the liturgical calendar because it marks the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter. During Lent, we show repentance and mourning for our sins by giving up something and leading a life of fasting, reconciliation, and prayer during these 40 days. The ashes that we wear on our forehead symbolize the dust from which God made us, and it also symbolizes penance and our desire to resolve our sins and mend our relationship with the Lord. Ash Wednesday is a day that allows us to begin our preparation for Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, so that on that day, we are ready to receive the Lord and unite with him once more. When we receive those ashes on Ash Wednesday, we are embracing our invitation to sanctity and penance, a time in which we turn away from sin and turn towards God. So may we all unhesitatingly receive the ashes and start our Lenten journey back to God, remembering that we are all Christ’s witnesses and that we are all dust, and to dust we shall return. 
Closing Prayer: Brooklyn Juarez (11) 
     Lord,  
We confess our sins to you. We have fallen short of your glory and without your mercy and grace, we would be dust. As we enter into this Lenten Season, guide us, be with us, care for us and wrap us in your glory. We will turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel. Lead us to the purity of the soul and steady our gaze to your never failing mercy. We open our hearts to your presence and will let your love flow over us. Loving God, forgive us and be with us forever and ever, dust to dust and ashes to ashes. Amen.

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Ash Wednesday Prayer Service

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