INTROIT

Exspectata (Psalm 27)

Priest:  O tarry thou the Lord's leisure:
People: Be strong, and he shall comfort thy heart, and put thou thy trust in the Lord.  §

Priest:  The Lord is my light and my salvation:
People: Whom then shall I fear?

(Repeat to §.)

Grant, O Lord, we pray thee, that this our fasting may be acceptable in thy sight: that we being cleansed from our sins, and made worthy of thy grace, may be made whole unto everlasting life.  Through.

COLLECT 2 Of Ash Wednesday

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost 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 obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Who.]

THE LESSON

Bel and the Dragon 1.29-42

In those days: They of Babylon came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thine house.  Now when the king saw that they pressed him sore, being constrained, he delivered Daniel unto them:  Who cast him into the lions' den: where he was six days.  And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every day two carcases, and two sheep: which then were not given to them, to the intent they might devour Daniel.  Now there was in Jewry a prophet, called Habbacuc, who had made pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl, and was going into the field, for to bring it to the reapers.  But the angel of the Lord said unto Habbacuc, Go, carry the dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the lions' den.  And Habbacuc said, Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I know where the den is.  Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and bare him by the hair of his head, and through the vehemency of his spirit set him in Babylon over the den.  And Habbacuc cried, saying, O Daniel, Daniel, take the dinner which God hath sent thee.  And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God: neither hast thou forsaken them that seek thee and love thee.  So Daniel arose, and did eat: and the angel of the Lord set Habbacuc in his own place again immediately.  Upon the seventh day the king went to bewail Daniel: and when he came to the den, he looked in, and behold, Daniel was sitting.  Then cried the king with a loud voice, saying, Great art Lord God of Daniel, and there is none other beside thee.  And he drew him out, and cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the den: and they were devoured in a moment before his face.  Then said the King: Let all men that dwell in all the earth tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for it is he that rescueth and worketh signes in the earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
 
 
GRADUAL

Priest:   (Psalm 43) Defend my cause, O Lord:
People:  Deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.
Priest:   O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me:
People:  And bring me unto thy holy hill.
 

THE GOSPEL

St. John 7.1-13

At that time: Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.  Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.  His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.  For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.  For neither did his brethren believe in him.  Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.  The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.  Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.  When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.  But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.  Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?  And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.  Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
 
 
OFFERTORY  Psalm 9
 
They that know thy Name shall put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek thee: O praise the Lord which dwelleth in Sion: for he forgetteth not the complaint of the poor.

SECRET

Accept, O Lord, we pray thee, the sacrifice, which we here do offer and present unto thee: humbly beseeching thee, that it may in such wise be profitable unto us for our comfort in this present life, that we may ever hold fast the promises which thou hast given us of life eternal.  Through.

SECRET 2  Of Ash Wednesday

Grant, we beseeh thee, O Lord, that like as we do by these our oblations bring to remembrance the institution of this holy Sacrament, so we may by thee be enabled to offer the same according to thy will.  Through.

COMMUNION  Psalm 25

Deliver me, O God of Israel, out of all my troubles.

POSTCOMMUNION

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God: that we, ever following diligently after things eternal, may be found worthy to attain unto the gifts of thy heavenly bounty.  Through.

POSTCOMMUNION 2  Of Ash Wednesday

We beseech thee, Lord, mercifully to protect us who have now received this holy Sacrament: that this our fast may be acceptable in thy sight, and profitable unto us for the healing of our souls.  Through.

Over the people.

Let us pray.  Bow down before the Lord.

COLLECT

Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, grace so to continue stedfastly in obedience to thy will: that in our time the number of the faithful people may be multiplied and the worthiness of their service indreased.  Through.
 

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