Everyone:

 

God, our loving Father,

Thank you for all the ways you bless us and forgive our sins

 

With your grace, please help us to have humble hearts and feel truly sorry when we make choices that do not give you the love and respect you give us.

 

Help us to prepare our whole being:  our minds, hearts, and souls during these 40 Days of Lent starting today, ASH Wednesday to joyfully receive the RESURRECTED Jesus as our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit as one God, for ever and ever.  AMEN

 

Leader (Parent or Older Sibling)

 

Almighty God, you have created us from the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be for us a symbol of our mortality[i] and a sign of our penitence[ii], that we may remember that it is by your grace alone that we receive the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

 

Then ashes are imposed with the following words and with the Q tip dipped into ashes, making the sign of the cross on each forehead:

 

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

 

Everyone says the OUR FATHER together.

 

 

 

 

[i] Mortality:  as humans, our physical bodies are set up to get older, wear out, and die

 

[ii] Penitence:  the act of feeling sad when we know we have done something wrong that would make God sad even if He still loves us.