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.
Old Testament
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
12 Now, therefore,' says the LORD, 'Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.' 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him -- A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; 16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. 17 Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, 'Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' '
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm
51
*At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
New Testament
2 Corinthians 5:20-21, 1-2
1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Deacon:The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit
Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon: We are reading from Matthew's Gospel chapter 6, beginning at verse 1.
1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 16 Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
After the Gospel reading, the deacon elevates the book and says:
Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, Lord Christ.
Prayers of the People
Brothers and sisters, as we begin our Lenten journey, let us remember that the sacrifice of Christ has gained us access to God the Father to whom we bring these requests.
For the Church; that She will continue to proclaim loudly 'Today is the day of salvation'.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For the persecuted Church; that they will be comforted by God's grace and delivered from their oppression.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
That the persecuted Church by their witness will see the conversion of their oppressors.
For the nations; that they will see the teachings of Christ and His Church as their guide to civil liberties.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For those who have fallen away and for those who have never believed; that they will hear and receive God's message of reconciliation.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For us; that God will create in us a pure heart to serve Him through serving others.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For the poor, the lonely, the sick and the dying.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For those who have lost loved ones; that they will remember the season of Lent ends with the promise of our resurrection.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Great and compassionate God, You sent Your Son to be a perfect Sacrifice for us.
Hear our prayer and give us the grace to live sacrificial lives.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.AMEN