18 February 2026

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Bible readings for today

• Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12
• ​Psalm 51:1-17
• 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
• Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

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​Liturgical colour: VIOLET

Collect

E te Atua o te koraha,
e aru nei mātou i a Īhu ki ngā wāhi
kāhore nei mātou e mōhio,
meatia kia mātau mātou ki te
kaiwhakawai ina haere mai ia;
engari tukua kia kai mātou i tāu taro,
kia mahi ki tāu nei ao,
kia koropiko nei ki a koe anake.
E īnoi ai mātou i roto i a te Karaiti tō
mātou Kaihoko.
Āmine.
​
God of the desert,
as we follow Jesus into the unknown,
may we recognise the tempter when he comes;
let it be your bread we eat,
your world we serve and you alone we worship.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
​Amen.

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The Season of Lent begins...

For more info and resources on Lent see here.

​Ash Wednesday

What is Ash Wednesday?

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” 
~Book of Common Prayer p. 265.

In the Christian Church, Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent. During Lent, Christians may fast or give up some of their usual routine to give time to personal examination and to reflect on their relationship with God. We acknowledge that we have not loved God with our whole hearts, and we prepare our hearts as remember how we belong to God, and to God we will return. 

Why a cross of ashes? 

The Palm crosses from the previous year are burnt and mixed with anointing oil, and used to mark a cross on a foreheads of believers.

"We receive the cross of ashes in the same place as the cross of oil we receive at baptism, for the same reason: to remind us that we were created in love, we belong to God, and we will return to God." - Building Faith. The shape of the cross reminds us that through Jesus we are forgiven and free. 

Resources

Clay figure activity (Building Faith)
Ashes to Go is our Family Tradition (Building Faith) 
Creative ideas for Ash Wednesday (Building Faith)
​Ash Wednesday Liturgy (Flame Creative Ministry)
Three teaching points for Ash Wednesday (Building Faith)
Ash Wednesday Liturgy (Building Faith)
Ash Wednesday: explore this church tradition together as you consider how and why we say sorry. (SUNZ)

Songs

Lyrics
From the dust we came
To the dust we shall return God everlasting, age unto age the same
We are a moment, then like a breath we fade From the dust we came

​To the dust we shall return God everlasting, we are cut down as grass
​Seeds in the morning, and by the night we pass
O Lord have mercy
O Lord have mercy
O Lord have mercy

Media