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My sacred place theme is Ash Wednesday
Colour - The colour of purple used is two represent the season we are in and the white is to show the season we are heading to which is Easter.
Fruit - The fruit I used on this table is to represent the fruits of the spirit and to remind us as we start a fresh life to use these fruits more often.
Palm - The Palm in this sacred space is to remind us when Jesus rode his donkey and was welcomed with Palms, not only this but were they burnt for the ashes.
Bible - The Bible represents the wonderful word of God  and that it may inspire us to follow Jesus'.
Crucifix -  The Crucifix reminds us of how Jesus' sacrificed his life for all of us to show his love.
Flowers - The flowers represent the real meaning of Ash Wednesday as it's all about becoming a new person and forgiving the sins we have done, almost like new life.
Candles - The candles that are on the table today represent that the light of Jesus is with us as we enter this sacred place, that we should feel welcomed.
The Ashes - The Ashes are a very important symbol on Ash Wednesday for the priest places a symbol of a cross using the ashes across our heads.

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Final Prayer -

God our Father,

You have created us from this dust and brought us to life through the power of your love,

We ask you to change our hearts,

As we go through the 46 days of Lent,

Help us to see your love in everyone we meet,

And to serve others in need,

Especially the poor, the sick and lonely

May our prayers and sacrifices this Lent,

Help us to grow closer to your spirit and others,

We make this prayer in the name of the father, son and Holy Spirit

Response: Amen

Sending out hymn -

I send you out - By John Angotti

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLQOkRBPpTo

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Prayers of the faithful -

Response: Lord hear our prayer

1. Let us pray for our church community that everyone who seeks the help of us that we show our compassion to them by giving them money, food and time during this time of Lent and always, Lord hear us - Lord hear our prayer

2. Let us pray for all those leaders of the church communities that they strive to be in the wisdom of the Lord and guide us to become followers of the Holy Jesus, Lord hear us - Lord hear our prayer

3. Let us pray for world peace, for those who are leading our countries may they lead with compassion and equalness toward others. May they do what's right for the poor and needy and lead in the right ways when making important decisions, Lord hear us - Lord hear our prayer.

4. Let us pray for all those in our world who are suffering in poor conditions whether it be from others or from themselves, may they find willing help, hope and comfort from God’s love as we show it through ourselves, Lord hear us - Lord hear our prayer.

5. Let us pray for our beloved parents and teachers, that they may show a good example as they too follow Jesus. May they also guide us to what’s true and right, Lord hear us - Lord hear our prayer

6. Let us pray for each other and that we all find our strength in God to share and big kind to one another this Lent, Lord hear us - Lord hear our prayer.

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Distribution of the Ashes -

As we await we shall reflect on the ashes we have received today please listen to the hymn Glory and Praise to our God by John Michael Talbo. We chose this hymn because it reflects on how God gives us light into our lives and leads us to freedom out of our sins. For the Priest will place the symbol of the cross on our foreheads.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iRqiS6fcqw
The Priest: 'Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel'

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Blessing of the Ashes -

Dear Lord,

May we ask you to bless these Ashes,

And that we turn away from our sins,

And with this follow in the light of your son Jesus,

May your powerful love guide us to make the right decisions during the season of Lent,

As we await for your arisen from the tomb,

We make this prayer through Jesus name, Amen

Response: Amen

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Reflection:

This scripture reading reflects the word of God in a way that we must remember that God is always with us and will lead us to the right path. For Ash Wednesday is about the Ashes we receive and the leading up to Lent. The ashes are from the previous church event on Palm Sunday, for the palms are burned and turn into ashes. The ashes are blessed but represent the grief on death and repentance. The history of this present day comes from when the Ninevites covering themselves from sins against God. They also wrapped themselves with sackcloth putting ashes on themselves turning away from evil sin. (Jonah 3:6,10) As we today come forward to the Priest and collect our ashes as we are committed to cutting clean to our sins and having a holly Easter.
Ash Wednesday is a very significant day in the Church's Liturgical Calendar but why do we celebrate? As mentioned before Ash Wednesday is leading into the season of Lent full of giving as well as reflecting on our sin's. For we celebrate this because we are giving our ways out of our sin and following Jesus for a better life full of Mercy and open hearts. The church season we celebrate this magnificent day in is no other then the season of Lent, which to many young followers is the Colour of Purple. Many Catholics also celebrate this day as a remembrance of grief and repentance which is very important when coming into Lent.
We reflect listening to the hymn - 10000 reasons by Matt Redeem
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

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Scripture reading -

Response : Thanks be to God

A reading from the prophet Joel Chapter 2 verse 12- 14

“But even now,” says the Lord, “Repent sincerely and return to me with fasting and weeping and mourning. Let your broken heart show your sorrow; tearing your clothes is not enough. Come back to the Lord your God. He is kind and full of mercy; He is patient and keeps his promise; He is always ready to forgive and not punish.”

This is the word of the Lord - Thanks be to God

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Opening Prayer -

Dear Lord,

As we begin this season of Lent, may you help us to become more merciful of your existence and that when we wander far from you that your love is always with us. We follow your love asking that it change our hearts and put us on the path to become better followers of your Son Jesus. We make this prayer through Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Sign of the Cross:
In The name of the father, son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Introductory Rites:

We all come together to reflect on the decisions we have made toward God as life is short. For the Hebrew people believed that the human life was like grass in a field we would grow then fade away. For the Ashes we have today symbolize grief for the acts we have made in poor conditions as well as others. Now that we are heading toward the opening of Lent it will be a time to reflect on our acts where which we will fast to the needed and prayer with our open hearts. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, the rise of the Lord and comes from the Jewish tradition as the Ashes placed on our forehead were known as the dust from what the Lord made us with.

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Welcoming:

Today we gather together in this sacred Ash Wednesday Liturgy, on Wednesday, the 26th of February. Before we begin I would just like to give an Acknowledgment to country for we give respect to the Traditional Owners and the ongoing custodians of this land, past and present.  Now we will play a song as this liturgy is reflecting on our past decisions that have laided grief on others.  Please join in with this hymn -

Stand Together - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueFqt8jpcSU

By Paul Jones.