A Service of Worship for Ash Wednesday

A Service of Worship for Ash Wednesday

MEDITATION VERSE: "And saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.'" - Mark 1:15 (KJV)

Prelude... Lorie Courier / “Grace Alone”

Greeting... Pastor Charles

Leader: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

People: And also with you.

Leader: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.

People: God's mercy endures forever.

Opening Prayer... Amy Abshire

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 (professor of Pastor Charles at Wesley Theological Seminary)

*Hymn... “Sunday’s Palms are Wednesday’s Ashes” (TFWS #2238)

Scripture Lesson: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17... Amy Abshire

Special Music... Lorie Courier / ”What Wondrous Love”

Scripture Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10... Amy Abshire

*Hymn: “Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire” (UMH #492)

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21... Pastor Charles

Lenten Reflection... Pastor Charles

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’ 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.

Litany of Confession (Psalm 51 & Psalm 103, The Inclusive Bible) ... Amy Abshire

O God, have mercy on me! Because of Your love and Your great compassion, Our God is merciful and gracious, slow to get angry, and full of unfailing love. Wash me clean of my guilt; purify me of my sin. God will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. I sinned against You alone and did what is evil in Your sight. You are just when You pass sentence on me, blameless when You give judgement. God has not punished us for all our sins, nor does the Lord deal with us as we deserve. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s love for those who fear YHWH; as far as the east is from the west, so far has the Lord removed our transgressions from us. I was born in sin, conceived in sin – yet You want truth to live in my innermost being. As tenderly as parents treat their children, that’s how tenderly You treat Your worshippers, YHWH! For You know what we are made of – You remember that we’re nothing but dust. Yet You want truth to live in my innermost being. Teach me Your wisdom! We last no longer than grass, live no longer than a wildflower; one gust of wind and we’re gone, never to be seen again. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and make me willing to obey You.  Yet Your love lasts from age to age for those who revere You, YHWH, as does Your goodness to our children’s children, and to those who keep Your Covenant and remember to obey Your precepts. The sacrifice You want is a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Our God is merciful and gracious. Bless YHWH, my soul.

—Christine Longhurst, www.re:worship.com

The Lord’s Prayer

Imposition of Ashes

*Hymn... “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” (UMH #402)

Dismissal with blessing... Pastor Charles

*Postlude... Lorie Courier / “Here I Am, Lord”

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