February 10, 2016

 Mr. Runco
At the Name of Jesus
.
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Joel

Even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your

heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.

Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and

merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.

Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and

leave a blessing behind him: a grain-offering and a
drink-offering to be presented to the LORD, your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn
assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation;
assemble the aged; gather the children. Let the bridegroom
leave his room, and the bride her canopy.

Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the
ministers of the LORD, weep. Let them say, ‘Spare your people,
O LORD, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword
among the nations. Why should it be said among the
peoples, “Where is their God?”’

Then the LORD became jealous for his land, and had pity on
his people.

The Word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks to be God.

The response is “Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned”
Response: Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out
my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

Response: Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.

Response: Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Response: Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

Response: Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A Reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is

making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God. For our sake God made Christ to be sin who
knew no sin, so that in Christ 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, “At an acceptable time I
have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!

The Word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks to be to God.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 6: 1-
6, 16-18)

Response: Glory to You O Lord (Sign of the Cross on

forehead, lips and heart).

Jesus said to the disciples: “Beware of practicing your piety

before people 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Response: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 His Grace
Song: “Out of the Ashes”

Teacher Statement: Repent, and believe in the gospel.

Response: Amen.
Fire in the forest leaves us ashes.
Ashes lie smoking on the ground
All the old and dead wood lies in ashes
But don't be sad, don't let it bring you down.

For in the ashes new seeds are sown.

From the ashes new life will grow.
Leave the past in ashes. Let the old things give way
Start afresh new life right here today.
In the ashes, from the ashes, out of ashes.
Leave the past in ashes

Now we leave our failings far behind us,

Leave them in the forest fire to burn.
All that's left behind is cold grey ashes,
And in the ashes now to God we turn.
We now offer our prayers to God for all of our needs.

Response: O, God hear us. Hear our prayer.

For the Church, proclaiming renewal in the ashes both

distributed and received. We pray to the Lord.

Response: O, God hear us. Hear our prayer.

For leaders in the world community, called to creative
action towards life beyond the ashes of violence and war.
We pray to the Lord.

Response: O, God hear us. Hear our prayer.

For all who taste dust and ashes in their own personal
experience. We pray to the Lord.

Response: O, God hear us. Hear our prayer.

For the members of this assembly, accepting Lenten
ashes as an invitation to fullness of life. As we listen to
God, may we look to Jesus and walk along our own
journey these forty days of Lent. We pray to the Lord.

Response: O, God hear us. Hear our prayer.

For anyone in our families who is ill in any way, that God
strengthen them and restore them to health. We pray to
the Lord.

Response: O, God hear us. Hear our prayer.

For all those who have recently passed away as they make
their journey back to our loving Father. We pray to the
Lord.

Response: O, God hear us. Hear our prayer.

For all of the unspoken prayers in our hearts that we

hold so dear, heard by God alone, we pray to the Lord.

Response: O, God hear us. Hear our prayer.

At this time, we now invite one representative from each
class to come forward to receive their Jar of Hope.

Donations collected throughout Lent will be given to the

Edmonton Catholic schools

Foundation “Dreams for Kids” campaign.
Knowing that God is always listening to us and the Christ is always
in our midst, we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us:

Our Father who art who in heaven

Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On Earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespassed against us
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
Amen.
Let us Grow Together into Christ
Be Not Afraid