Today’s photo: Page from Gospel Book
Here you can find resources for our liturgy to pray at home or wherever you are.
The readings for today and some prayers from our liturgy are on the downloadable pew sheet.
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Preparation
Dear friends in Christ,
as we begin the season of Lent, we are reminded
that, in our Christian lives, we seek to realise the death of Jesus
so that God may be glorified in our worship and through our witness in the world.
Saint Paul writes of ‘carrying around the death of Jesus in our bodies,
so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our bodies’ (2 Corinthians 4.10).
It is through baptism that we die into Christ’s death (Romans 6.3– 4)
so that we may share in his resurrection.
In beginning our Lenten observance,
we are therefore reminded of our baptism,
and how Christ’s death on the cross may clearly be shown in our lives.
We now come before God in penitence, reflecting on our life in Christ.
We pledge ourselves to observe this season of self-examination, discipline, and self-denial
with sincerity, prayer, and reverent reflection on holy Scripture,
seeking God’s purpose for us, and modelling our lives on the example of Christ Jesus.
Organ Prelude
Opening
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Collect for Purity
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Kyrie reflection
Collect
O Lord,
grant that your faithful people may
enter this season of penitence with faithfulness,
and complete it with steadfast devotion;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-12
Psalm 51.1-12
please join in saying the text, pausing shortly at the *asterisk
Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; *
in your great compassion blot out my offences.
Wash me through and through from my wickedness *
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, *
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you only have I sinned *
and done what is evil in your sight.
And so you are justified when you speak *
and upright in your judgement.
Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
a sinner from my mother’s womb.
For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
and will make me understand wisdom secretly.
Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
that the body you have broken may rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins *
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.20b-6.10
Gospel: Matthew 6.1‐6,16‐21
read by The Revd Dr Rebekah Sims
Homily for Ash Wednesday
The Rector
The Litany
God the Father, have mercy on us.
God the Son, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, have mercy on us.
From all evil and mischief: from pride, vanity, and hypocrisy:
from envy, hatred, and malice: and from all evil intent,
good Lord, deliver us.
From sloth, worldliness, and love of money:
from hardness of heart and contempt for your word and your laws,
good Lord, deliver us.
From sins of body and mind: from the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil;
from error and false doctrine, good Lord, deliver us.
In all times of sorrow, in all times of joy: in the hour of death, and at the day of judgement,
good Lord, deliver us.
Govern and direct your holy Church: fill it with love and truth:
and grant it that unity which is your will.
Hear us, good Lord.
Give us boldness to preach the gospel in all the world, and to make disciples of all the nations.
Hear us, good Lord.
Enlighten your ministers with knowledge and understanding, that by their teaching and their lives they may proclaim your word.
Hear us, good Lord.
Give your people grace to hear and receive your word, and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Hear us, good Lord.
Bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived.
Hear us, good Lord.
Strengthen those who stand: comfort and help the faint-hearted: raise up the fallen;
and finally beat down Satan under our feet.
Hear us, good Lord.
Give us true repentance: forgive us our sins of negligence and ignorance and our deliberate sins: and grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to your holy word.
Holy God
Holy Strong
Holy Immortal
Have mercy on us.
Silence
Act of Penitence
Create in us clean hearts, O God:
and renew a right spirit within us.
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth,
we confess that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed.
We have not loved you with all our being,
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves:
we have disfigured your image in which we are made.
In your mercy, forgive what we have been and what we have done,
guide us and help us to amend our lives, and bring us to fullness of life in you,
for the sake of your Son who died for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Imposition of Ashes
Almighty God, you have compassion on all your children,
and hate nothing you have made;
you do not desire the death of sinners,
but that they turn from their ways and live.
May these ashes be for us,
who are redeemed through the cross of Christ,
a sign of our death to sin, and the pledge of our life in Christ;
who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
In church, we are invited to receive the mark of Christ’s cross, with which we are signed at Baptism, and by which we are forgiven our sins and live to the glory of God.
Lord God Almighty,
your people are washed clean in the saving flood of baptism, and born again:
As we follow the way of the cross,
we ask you to unseal for us the wellspring of your grace,
cleanse our hearts of all that is not holy,
and cause your gift of new life to flourish in us;
grant this through Jesus Christ your Son,
who sets us free from sin,
and lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
holy and mighty God, world without end. Amen.
The Peace
We meet in Christ’s name.
Let us share his peace.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
Offertory Prayer
Let us present our offerings to the Lord.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory,
the splendour and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you, and of your own we give you.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
The living bread is broken for the life of the world.
Lord, unite us in this sign.
The Lord’s Prayer
Please join in the prayer Jesus himself taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Thanksgiving and Sending Out
Post-Communion Prayer
Father of all,
we give you thanks and praise
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Organ Postlude
Notices
This Week
Thursday 6 March
- 11am Holy Communion
Saturday 8 March
- 9am – 2.30pm Diocesan Synod in St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth
Next Week & Looking Ahead
Sunday 9 March
Lent 1
- 10.30am Sung Eucharist
Readings: Exodus 34.29-35; 2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2; Luke 9.28-36
Lent Groups 2025: Voice of the Living Light
This Lent, we will look at the work and legacy of the nun, visionary and theologian Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), by reflecting on her life and on excerpts of her writing, and by meditating on some of the images accompanying her visions and music she composed.
Two groups will meet in parallel on Thursday mornings (after the 11am service) and in the evenings at 8 p.m. on 13th, 20th. 27th March and 3rd & 10th April.
HT Prayer Tree
The Prayer Tree at the back of church is an aid to prayer. Take a label and write your prayer/message on it and hang it on the tree.
Please add the current date. The label will be removed one month after this date, but if you would like to leave the label on the tree, please just alter the date or write another label.
See Libby Coats if you have questions.