Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 Corinthians 5.20b \u2013 6.10<\/p>\n\n\n\n
20<\/sup>So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21<\/sup>For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6 As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2<\/sup>For he says, Matthew 6.1\u20136,16\u201321<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6 \u2018Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2<\/sup> \u2018So 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. 3<\/sup>But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4<\/sup>so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5<\/sup> \u2018And 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. 6<\/sup>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 16<\/sup> \u2018And 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. 17<\/sup>But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18<\/sup>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 19<\/sup>\u00a0\u2018Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20<\/sup>but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21<\/sup>For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All collects and readings appointed for this day as well as the orders of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer can be found at almanac.oremus.org\/2021-02-17<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wednesday 17th February – Ash Wednesday Collect Almighty and everlasting God,you hate nothing that you have madeand forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:create and make in us new and contrite heartsthat we, worthily lamenting our sinsand acknowledging our wretchedness,may receive from you, the God of all mercy,perfect remission and forgiveness;through Jesus Christ … <\/p>\n
\u2018At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and on a day of salvation I have helped you.\u2019
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3<\/sup>We are putting no obstacle in anyone\u2019s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4<\/sup>but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5<\/sup>beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; 6<\/sup>by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7<\/sup>truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8<\/sup>in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9<\/sup>as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see\u2014we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10<\/sup>as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGospel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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