Gather (Introductory Rites)

Preparation

PLANNING A NON-EUCHARISTIC LITURGY

Date: 18/02/2015

Feast: Lent

Focus: Ash Wednesday

Place: School Hall

Time: 9:00am

Group: Year 6

Required Props:
Ashes
Large Candle
Cross
Bible with purple fabric
Small Palm Leaf
Holy Water
How will symbols be displayed/used? :
A bowl of ashes displayed next to a large lit candle for all to see.
A palm leaf displayed on the ground to symbolise what was once
meant for Joy is now burnt into ash for sinfulness.
A cross in eye sight for all to see the symbol of Christ.
Bible with purple fabric in it to represent the teachings from Jesus
and the significant colour for Lent.
Holy water is for the use of sprinkling over the ashes.
Welcome:
Let us pray Pause
Holy God, you are good and loving.
As we gather to celebrate this Ash Wednesday
Eucharist, we
pray that during this time of Lent we will try to
turn our
hearts in love and kindness to you, by doing good
to those
around us, so that we may become more like
Jesus, your
Son. We make our prayer in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
(Liturgy Ritual Prayer, 2013)
Gathering Hymn: Lent
Open Our Eyes, Lord.
(Robert Cull 1975)
Opening Prayer:
Your Word reveals to us a simple truth,
that sin entered this world
through human folly
in believing we could be like you,
and permeated history
through envy, selfishness and greed.
Yet sin, which holds us tight

the Word)(Liturgy ofListen

within its grasp

cannot resist a heart that is touched
by your grace through Jesus Christ,
cannot contend with Living Water
pouring into hearts and souls.
Your Word reveals to us a simple truth,
that sin is defeated
and we can become
the people we were always meant to be,
by your grace through Jesus Christ.
(Birch,2015)

Reading/s:
First Reading - Isaiah 58: 1-14
False and True Worship
Second Reading Joel 2:12-18
Let you hearts be broken, and not your
garments torn
Gospel Reading Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Concerning Almsgiving and Fasting
(Online Ministries, 2015)

Prayer/Refection/Action:
Lord, bless these ashes + by which we show that
Respond Refect,Share,

we are dust. Pardon our sins and keep us faithful

to the discipline of Lent, for you do not want
sinners to die but to live with the risen Christ, who
reigns with you for ever and ever.
Amen.
Presenter sprinkles the ashes with holy water in
silence.
The presenter then places the ashes on those who
come forward, saying to each: Turn away from sin
and be faithful to the gospel.
(CatholicCulture.org, 2015)

DismissalThe presenter concludes the rite by saying:

Go & Tell (Concluding Rites)

May the Father bless us, for he has adopted us as

his children. Amen.
May the Son come to help us, for he has received
us as brothers and sisters. Amen.
May the Spirit be with us, for he has made us his
dwelling place. Amen.
And may almighty God bless you all, the Father,
and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CatholicCulture.org, 2015)
Concluding Hymn:
The Glory of These Forty Days (tune is Lord, Keep
Us Steadfast in Your Word)
-Gregory the Great
(Sola Publishing, 2013)

References:
Birch, J. (2015) Prayers for Liturgy for Lent: Prayers for lent. Retrieved from
http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Lent.htm

CatholicChurch.org. (2015). Catholic Prayer: Book of Blessings:

Blessing and
Distribution of Ashes. Retrieved from
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers
/view.cfm?id=7 34

Cull, R. (1975). Open Our Eyes, Lord. Retrieved from

http://www.reformedworship.org/article/december-1998/songs-lentand- easter
Liturgy Ritual Prayer. (2013). Adult Liturgy Preparation Resource Kit.
Retrieved from
http://www.liturgyplanning.com.au/documents/main.php?
g2_view=core.Downl
oadItem&g2_itemId=1799\

Online Ministries. (2015). Ash Wednesday: Daily lent prayer. Retrieved

from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/plfirstfourdays.html#wed

Sola Publishing. (2013). Lesson and Hymn Suggestions: Ash Wednesday.

Retrieved from
www.solapublishing.com/doc/worship/HYMNSLent-EasterC2013.rtf