season of penitence and fasting.  This is 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. 

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, and self-denial; and by reading and 
meditating on God's 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. 

*Silence is then kept for a time, all kneeling. 


[[*If ashes are to be imposed, the Celebrant says the following prayer* 

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.   Amen. 

*The ashes are imposed with the following words* 

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.]] 


*The following Psalm is then sung or said*