A service of worship for Ash Wednesday

GREETING        – Pastor Charles and Bob M.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins. God's mercy endures forever.

OPENING PRAYER                                                         

O God, maker of everything and judge of all that You have made, from the dust of the earth You have formed us and from the dust of death You will raise us. By the redemptive power of the cross, create in us clean hearts and put within us a new spirit, that we may repent of our sins and lead lives worthy of Your calling: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.                     – Laurence Hull Stookey 

HYMN “Grace Greater Than Our Sin” V. 1 & 2 – Hannah G. and Steve & Michele M.

SCRIPTURE LESSON: Joel 2:1–2, 12–17                                                    

SCRIPTURE LESSON: 2 Corinthians 5:20 –6:10  

HYMN   “There’s a Wideness In God’s Mercy” V. 1 & 2 – Lorie C. and Rebecca G.

GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 6:1 –6, 16–21  

LENTEN REFLECTION  

MUSICAL OFFERING: "Beneath the Cross of Jesus"    – Hannah G.

INVITATION TO THE OBSERVANCE OF LENTEN DISCIPLINE  

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: the early Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration there should be a forty–day season of spiritual preparation. During this season converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when persons who had committed serious sins and had separated themselves from the community of faith were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness and restored to participation in the life of the Church. In this way the whole congregation was reminded of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need we all have to renew our faith.

 

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent:

           by self–examination and repentance;

           by prayer, fasting, and self–denial;

           and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word.

 

To make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now come before our Creator and Redeemer.

CONFESSION AND PARDON     

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

HYMN “Just As I Am” Verses 1 & 2 – Hannah G. and Don B.

DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING

A Service of Worship for Ash Wednesday: “Invitation to the Observance of the Lenten Discipline,”      © 1979, 1986 by Abingdon Press, © 1992 UMPH. "Confession" and “Pardon” from The Book of Common Prayer (The Episcopal Church, 1979), 264-269.