Ash Wednesday Liturgy
for the Jubilee of Mercy
Lent 2016
This liturgy can be used as a whole school liturgy or for individual
classes to serve as a start to the season of Lent.
You will need:
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A table, crucifix, candle and Bible to create a central focus
point
Ashes
Classical music or hymns
Readers
A paper droplet (to write or draw Lenten Promises and prayers).
Volunteers to give out droplets as children enter the worship space.
Alternatively prepare the droplets before the Ash Wednesday Liturgy.
Baskets
Opening Hymn
Choose from the following, or any other appropriate song;
O let all who thirst
Come to the water all you who thirst
Water of life
Sign of the Cross
Leader: We begin our worship with a reminder that Jesus died and rose again for us
and so we gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
Opening prayer
Loving and compassionate God,
teach us to show love and mercy to each other.
As we begin our journey through Lent, inspire us to be generous and kind.
Through our joy, patience and kindness, may we help to build a better world.
Amen.
Lent in the Year of Mercy
Leader: Today is Ash Wednesday. Does anyone know what that means?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Christian season of Lent.
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Lent is a time when we pray, do kind things for other people, give up things we
enjoy and give to others, as we prepare to celebrate the great feast of Easter. This
year, Pope Francis has declared a Year of Mercy, so Lent 2016 is also a chance for
us to reflect on the mercy of God.
For forty days, we accompany Jesus on his journey to Calvary and we see the
mercy he shows towards others, despite his suffering. Just as God shows mercy
towards us, like Jesus, we try to show mercy to others.
This Lent, we are also making our journey alongside women and girls around the
world who, every day, spend 140 million hours collecting water for their families.
That’s time that could have been spent working or studying, relaxing or in school.
Guti’s story
For a film of Guti or photographs (in Assembly) go to: cafod.org.uk/primary
Reader: Guti is 15 years old and is a student at a small school in Northern Uganda.
At her school, there used to be no clean, safe water. Pupils had to walk to the river
if they wanted water to drink or to wash. They often became ill and missed school.
Guti stays in the dormitories at school during the week, because her village is so far
away. The dormitories were dirty and very few other girls went to school. Guti
almost dropped out of school herself.
Reader: But things have changed. With CAFOD’s support, the local water pump has
been repaired. This means the children now have clean water. They can spend time
learning instead of walking for miles to collect water.
Reader: With this water, and with new sinks and soap, the children are able to keep
clean and stay healthy. This means they no longer get sick and have to miss
school. And they are able to concentrate better in lessons.
Reader: Guti remembers what things used to be like. She says: “When we had no
water we would go thirsty and we would be dirty and spend a long time without
bathing”.
Reader: The children learn about the importance of water and hygiene in lessons,
and through songs and drama. The best thing about the project is that Guti and her
friends are now teaching other children at the school how to stay clean and healthy.
Reader: Now, more and more girls are joining the school, wanting to stay on, finish
school and get good jobs.
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Leader: This Lent we will remember girls like Guti around the world who miss out
on school because their community does not have access to clean, safe water, and
we will think about how we can support them.
Let’s listen to our scripture reading.
Scripture reading: Joel 2:12-13
Yet 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.
The word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader: In our reading, the Lord calls us to return to him with sorrow for the ways
we have failed to act as we ought to have done. And God is always merciful, not
wishing to punish us but to love us. Joel says “rend your hearts and not your
clothing”. In other words, it’s not about how you look on the outside; it’s all about
what your heart is doing inside. God is full of love and wants us to have hearts filled
with love because we have experienced his mercy.
This Lent, CAFOD invites us to Make a Splash! to help communities around the
world gain access to clean water, so that girls like Guti can go to school and build a
better future.
We remember Guti and our sisters and brothers around the world as we pray.
Prayers of intercession
Each prayer can be read by a different person.
The response is: Hear our prayer.
Loving God, we pray for our school family as we begin this season of Lent. Help us
to be generous in our actions.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Caring God, we pray for children who do not have water to drink or wash with.
Through our fundraising, help us to support more and more families to have access
to clean water.
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Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Gentle God, we pray for those who have become sick through dirty water. As we
support the work of CAFOD, let us never lose hope for a fair and just world.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Wonderful God, we pray for one another as we journey through Lent. As we pray,
give up, and think of others, inspire us to be kind and show mercy in our actions.
Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Droplets and receiving of the Ashes
Leader: We will have a minute or two for reflection when you are invited to write or
draw on your water droplet your Lenten promise or a prayer for those who have no
access to clean water. (These could be prepared in class beforehand, cut out, and
decorated.)
Quiet instrumental music can be played during this time.
You’re now going to receive your ashes. Please wait in silence until you are called
forward, and take this opportunity to speak and listen to God in your heart.
After receiving the ashes, place your droplet into the basket. Afterwards they will
be added to our CAFOD Make a Splash! display as a sign that, this Lent, we
especially want to support communities to gain access to clean water.
Have a basket on each side of the ashes. Pupils line up to receive ashes on their
foreheads then place their droplet into the basket. Play quiet music.
Final prayer
Be close to us, Lord Jesus,
as we journey through Lent.
As we pray and share with others,
help us to see that all people are precious,
and that we are all blessed by your love.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Closing hymn
Invite everyone to leave quietly.
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This Lent, your fundraising will have double the impact because we
have been awarded UK Aid Match funding for our Lent appeal. This
means the UK Government will match pound for pound every
donation given to our Lent 2016 appeal, up to a total of £3.5 million.
To find out more a about Guti’s story and how to Make a Splash! this Lent,
visit cafod.org.uk/primary
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