February 18, 2006, Ash Wednesday.

A reading from the book of the prophet Joel.

Even now, says the Lord,

return to me with your whole heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.

Rind your hearts, not your garments,

and return to the Lord, your God, for gracious and merciful

is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.

Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, offerings and libations for the Lord

your God.

Blow the trumpet and Zion, proclaim a fast, call an assembly, gather the people, notify

the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and the infants at the breast.

Let the bridegroom quit his room, and the bride her chamber.

Between the porch and the altar, let the priest, the ministers of the Lord, weep,

and say, spare, O Lord, your people, and make not your heritage of approach,

with the nations ruling over them.

Why should they say among the peoples, where is their God?

Then the Lord was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

The word of the Lord.

Music Be mercy for Be merciful, Lord, for we have sin.

Be merciful, Lord, for we have sin.

Be merciful, O Lord,

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