Celebrating Ash Wednesday with Deacon Dulas, Part IV

Here is part 4 of a series on Ash Wednesday by Deacon Jerry Dulas. Thanks, Deacon!

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The Rite of Imposition of Ashes
continued...

During the Imposition of Ashes, the Choir chants the following Antiphons and Responsory:

Antiphon I (pointed for Gregorian chant):
|| So rend your | heart, | - *
and not | your | gar- | ments;
|| Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merc- i-ful, ∙ (+) slow to anger, and of great | kind- | ness; *
And He relents from | do- | ing | harm. (Joel 2:13)

Antiphon II:
|| Let the priests, who minister to the | Lord, | - *
weep between the porch and | the | al- | tar;
|| Let them say, “Spare Your people, O | Lord.” | - *
And destroy not the mouths of them that praise | You, | O | Lord. (Joel 2:17a, Apocryphal Esther 13:17b)

Responsory:
V: Let us amend for the better in those things in which we have sinned through | ig- | no- | rance; *
Lest suddenly overtaken by the day of death, we seek space for repentance and are not able to | find | — | it. (liturgical verse)
R: Attend, O Lord, be | mer- | ci- | ful; *
For we | have | sinned | a- | gainst - | You. (based on Psalm 41:4)
V: Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory | of | Your | name; *
And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, for | Your | name’s | sake! (Psalm 79:9)
R: Attend, O Lord, be | mer- | ci- | ful; *
For we | have | sinned | a- | gainst - | You.
V: Glory be to the Father and | to | the | Son *
and to the | Ho- | ly | Ghost.
R: Attend, O Lord, be | mer- | ci- | ful; *
For we | have | sinned | a- | gainst - | You.

When all have received the ashes, the Celebrant, from the Epistle horn, and facing the Congregation, with parted hands, chants:

The Lord be with you.

The Congregation responds, chanting:
Amen.

The Deacon then chants:
Let us pray.

The Celebrant then prays the following Collect, chanting:
V: Grant us, O Lord, to begin with holy fasts the campaign of our Christian warfare, that, as we do battle with the spirits of evil, we may be protected by the help of self-denial; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And the Congregation responds, chanting:
Amen.

The Service continues with the Introit. The Celebrant, exchanges his Cope for a Chasuble. 

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Aus Tiefer Not

From depths of woe I cry to Thee,
In trial and tribulation;
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,
Lord, hear my suplication.
If Thou rememb'rest ev'ry sin,
Who then could heaven ever win
Or stand before Thy presence?



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Deacon Dulas is ordained into the pastorate and member of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America (eldona.org).  In his own words, "My call is to serve as deacon and missionary-at-large to MN and WI at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tony, WI.  We are starting a mission here in Mayer, MN, and the surrounding area called St. Matthew Ev. Luth. Mission."

Like what you are reading? Check out Deacon Dulas' blog at The Deacon's Didache.