{"id":2758,"date":"2023-02-16T10:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T15:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/?p=2758"},"modified":"2023-02-16T10:02:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T15:02:00","slug":"february-22-2023-ash-wednesday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/?p=2758","title":{"rendered":"February 22, 2023 &#8211; Ash Wednesday"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Prelude: &#8220;Lenten Meditation&#8221; &#8211; Louise E. Stairs<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-2758-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ash_wed_2021_prelude_01.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ash_wed_2021_prelude_01.mp3\">http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ash_wed_2021_prelude_01.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Opening Hymn:<\/strong><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zBj6j5r6h14\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Collect of the Day<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Celebrant:<\/i> The Lord be with you.<br \/>\n<\/span><span class=\"s1\"><i>People:<\/i> <b>And also with you. <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Celebrant:<\/i> Let us pray. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">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. <i>Amen.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>First Reading<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Isaiah 58:1-12<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s2\">S<\/span><span class=\"s1\">hout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. &#8220;Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?&#8221; Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the\u00a0Lord?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the\u00a0Lord\u00a0shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the\u00a0Lord\u00a0will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness<br \/>\nand your gloom be like the noonday. The\u00a0Lord\u00a0will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Reader:<\/i> The Word of the Lord. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>People:<\/i> <b>Thanks be to God. <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"lessonCitation\">Psalm 103:8-14<\/h3>\n<div>\n<p class=\"psalmText\">8 The\u00a0<span class=\"lordSmallCaps\">Lord<\/span>\u00a0is full of compassion and mercy, *<br \/>\nslow to anger and of great kindness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"psalmText\">9 He will not always accuse us, *<br \/>\nnor will he keep his anger for ever.<\/p>\n<p class=\"psalmText\">10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, *<br \/>\nnor rewarded us according to our wickedness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"psalmText\">11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, *<br \/>\nso is his mercy great upon those who fear him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"psalmText\">12 As far as the east is from the west, *<br \/>\nso far has he removed our sins from us.<\/p>\n<p class=\"psalmText\">13 As a father cares for his children, *<br \/>\nso does the\u00a0<span class=\"lordSmallCaps\">Lord<\/span>\u00a0care for those who fear him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"psalmText\">14 For he himself knows whereof we are made; *<br \/>\nhe remembers that we are but dust.<\/p>\n<h3>Second Reading<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"lessonCitation\">2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10<\/h3>\n<div>\n<p class=\"lessonText\"><span class=\"initCap\">W<\/span>e entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, &#8220;At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"lessonText\">See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone&#8217;s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see&#8211; we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Reader:<\/i> The Word of the Lord. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>People: <\/i><b>Thanks be to God.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Gospel Hymn<\/strong><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4AHqIVHFi7k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Holy Gospel <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Celebrant:<\/i> The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.<br \/>\n<\/span><span class=\"s1\"><i>People: <\/i><b>Glory to you, Lord Christ.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">[At that time:] Jesus said, \u201cBeware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Celebrant:<\/i> The Gospel of the Lord.<br \/>\n<\/span><span class=\"s1\"><i>People: <\/i><b>Praise to you, Lord Christ.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Message of the Day<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/sermon\/holy-dust-ash-wednesday-february-22-2023\/\">Click here to read the message for Ash Wednesday<\/a><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Interlude: &#8220;In God We Trust&#8221; &#8211; anonymous<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-2758-2\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ash_wed_2021_interlude_01.mp3?_=2\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ash_wed_2021_interlude_01.mp3\">http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ash_wed_2021_interlude_01.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Invitation to a Holy Lent<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord\u2019s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, charity and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God\u2019s holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Blessing of Ashes <\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\"><i>The Celebrant then says<br \/>\n<\/i><\/span><span class=\"s1\">Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: +++ Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. <i>Amen<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Litany of Penitence<br \/>\n<\/b><\/span><span class=\"s1\">Most holy and merciful Father: <\/span><span class=\"s1\">We confess to you and to one another, <\/span><span class=\"s1\">and to the whole communion of saints <\/span><span class=\"s1\">in heaven and on earth, <\/span><span class=\"s1\">that we have sinned by our own fault <\/span><span class=\"s1\">in thought, word, and deed; <\/span><span class=\"s1\">by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desires not the death of sinners, but rather that they may turn from their wickedness and live, has given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardons and absolves all those who truly repent, and with sincere hearts believe his holy Gospel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Therefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do on this day, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. <i>Amen<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Lord&#8217;s Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>The Celebrant: <\/i><\/span><span class=\"s1\">And now, as our Savior <\/span><span class=\"s1\">Christ has taught us, <\/span><span class=\"s1\">we are bold to say,<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>People and Celebrant<br \/>\n<\/i><\/span><span class=\"s1\">Our Father, who art in heaven,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">hallowed be thy Name,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">thy kingdom come,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">thy will be done,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">on earth as it is in heaven.<br \/>\n<\/span><span class=\"s1\">Give us this day our daily bread.<br \/>\n<\/span><span class=\"s1\">And forgive us our trespasses,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">as we forgive those<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">who trespass against us.<br \/>\n<\/span><span class=\"s1\">And lead us not into temptation,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">but deliver us from evil.<br \/>\n<\/span><span class=\"s1\">For thine is the kingdom,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">and the power, and the glory,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">for ever and ever. Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Closing Hymn\u00a0<\/b><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B5zl3QMBgdE\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Dismissal<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Celebrant: Let us bless the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\"><em>People:<\/em><b> Thanks be to God.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Peace<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Celebrant:<\/i> The peace of the Lord be always with you. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>People:<\/i> <b>And also with you.<\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Postlude: &#8220;Wilt Thou Forgive&#8221; &#8211; John Hilton<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-2758-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ash_wed_2021_postlude_01.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ash_wed_2021_postlude_01.mp3\">http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/ash_wed_2021_postlude_01.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prelude: &#8220;Lenten Meditation&#8221; &#8211; Louise E. Stairs \u00a0 Opening Hymn: Collect of the Day Celebrant: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Celebrant: Let us pray. 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2758"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3088,"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2758\/revisions\/3088"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/stpeterstrinity.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}