Ash Wedsnday Virtual

Lent is the 40-day period (excluding Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter....thois

“The purpose of Lent is…above all a preparation to rejoice in His love. And this preparation consists in receiving the gift of His mercy – a gift which we receive insofar as we open our hearts to it, casting out that which cannot remain in the same room with mercy.” – Thomas Merton

7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

-Genesis 2:7

19God said to Adam, By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

-Genesis 3:19

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

-Genesis 3:19

“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”

-Ezekiel 9

13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

-Proverbs 28:13

12 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

-Joel 2:12-13

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,

that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

You do not want a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

-1 John 1:9

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

-Acts 3:19

Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth.                        

May these ashes remind us  of our mortality and need for repentance                        

and teach us again that only by your gracious gift  are we given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Remember that you come from dust and you shall return to dust. Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.