ASH WEDNESDAY

Joel 2: 12 - 18 12 “Even now,” declares the Lord,“return to me with all your heart,with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heartand not your garments.Return to the Lord your God,for he is gracious and compassionate,slow to anger and abounding in love,and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relentand leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offeringsfor the Lord your God. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,declare a holy fast,call a sacred assembly. 16 Gather the people,consecrate the assembly;bring together the elders,gather the children,those nursing at the breast.Let the bridegroom leave his roomand the bride her chamber. 17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,weep between the portico and the altar.Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,a byword among the nations.Why should they say among the peoples,‘Where is their God?’ ” 18Then the Lord was jealous for his landand took pity on his people.