St Alban’s Episcopal Church
Bolivar, Missouri

Wednesday. February 23, 2022

Ash Wednesday – in one week
Psalm 103
The first weekly reading Since Ash Wednesday is a week from today, we have an extra reading for your written or artistic reflections.
Between now and then, read this a few times, or read a section a day – and see if something comes to you that you’d like to share. You are thoughtful people; let us hear what’s in your heart.
And be sure to include your kids, if they are old enough – (two yr olds, at least the two year olds we have, are!) Help them think about the verses that are understandable at their ages – Any kind of art, any words, will be welcome.


Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

He forgives all your sins and heals all your infirmities;

He redeems your life from the grave and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;

He satisfies you with good things, and your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed.

He made his ways known to Moses and his works to the children of Israel.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness.

(Psalm 103 continued)

He will not always accuse us, nor will he keep his anger for ever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.

As a father cares for his children, so does the Lord care for those who fear him.

For he himself knows whereof we are made;he remembers that we are but dust.

Our days are like the grass; we flourish like a flower of the field;

When the wind goes over it, it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.

But the merciful goodness of the Lord endures for ever on those who fear him, and his righteousness on children’s children.

On those who keep his covenant and remember his commandments and do them.

The Lord has set his throne in heaven, and his kingship has dominion over all.

Bless the Lord you angels of his, you mighty ones who do his bidding, and hearken to the voice of his word.

Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, you ministers of his who do his will.

Bless the Lord, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion; bless the Lord, O my soul.

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