The pre-recorded service will be posted to website and Facebook tomorrow.
Order of Worship: Feb 17 Ash Wednesday
Welcome to Worship
Praise Song: 616 Jesus, Remember Me
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Abraham has a pretty comfortable life with God. Sure, he had his challenges, his skeletons in his closet, but life seems good, his faith walk is stable. The Promise of God feels secure and he can see it in action. But then, all of a sudden, the rug is pulled out from under him. Everything he thought he knew changed. The God of clear promise has become, to Abraham, the God who is hard to understand. Together, let us make public confession of our sins.
C: Almighty God, merciful Father, I confess that I have sinned against you. I have done that which you forbid, and I have failed to do that which you command. In the weariness of a busy life, I have yielded to temptation. I have trusted myself more than I have trusted you. I have not always followed where you lead. Forgive me, I pray. By your Holy Spirit, lead me and guide me so that I may truly be used by you in your great redemptive work on earth, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.
P: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
C: Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. And that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
P: If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
C: Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. And that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
P: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.
C: Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. And that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
P: O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love; with him there is plenteous redemption. (Psalm 130:7)
C: Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me. And that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Hymn: 592 Just As I Am
P: As you believe, so may it be unto you. Based upon the merits of Christ Jesus, I announce unto you the forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Readings
Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17
1Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near— 2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come. 12Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. 14Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? 15Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. 17Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep. Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”
Psalm 51: 1-17
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your | steadfast love; in your great compassion blot out | my offenses. 2Wash me through and through | from my wickedness, and cleanse me | from my sin. 3For I know | my offenses, and my sin is ev- | er before me. 4Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil | in your sight; so you are justified when you speak and right | in your judgment. R 5Indeed, I was born | steeped in wickedness, a sinner from my | mother’s womb. 6Indeed, you delight in truth | deep within me, and would have me know wisdom | deep within. 7Remove my sins with hyssop, and I | shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be pur- | er than snow. 8Let me hear | joy and gladness; that the body you have broken | may rejoice. R 9Hide your face | from my sins, and blot out | all my wickedness. 10Create in me a clean | heart, O God, and renew a right spir- | it within me. 11Cast me not away | from your presence, and take not your Holy Spir- | it from me. 12Restore to me the joy of | your salvation and sustain me with your boun- | tiful Spirit. R 13Let me teach your ways | to offenders, and sinners shall be re- | stored to you. 14Rescue me from bloodshed, O God of | my salvation, and my tongue shall sing | of your righteousness. 15O Lord, o- | pen my lips, and my mouth shall pro- | claim your praise. 16For you take no delight in sacrifice, or | I would give it. You are not pleased | with burnt offering. 17The sacrifice of God is a | troubled spirit; a troubled and broken heart, O God, you will | not despise. R
Matthew 6:1-9, 16-21
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 1“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 16“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Reflective Readings
Hymn: 325 I Want Jesus to Walk with Me
Imposition of Ashes
Phrase said when ashes are imposed: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.”
P: Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation.
C: that we may show forth your glory in the world.
C: By the cross and passion of your Son, our Savior,
C: bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.
Prayers of the People
Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need.
A brief silence.
O God, you call your church to be ministers of reconciliation throughout the world. Inspire your church in its proclamation of the gospel and guide its ministries to build up the body of Christ. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
O God, you created the earth and all its inhabitants and you declared that it is good. Protect mountains and valleys, animals and plants, and direct us to be good stewards of all you have made. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
O God, you desire peace. Direct governments and leaders to work for the well-being of all people and raise up advocates to speak and serve on behalf of the downtrodden. Lord, in your mercy.
hear our prayer.
O God, you are our hope in the midst of despair, our help in the midst of sorrow, and our consolation in the midst of affliction. Grant comfort to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit (especially) and support caregivers who attend to all in need. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
O God, you are love, and you call us to love one another. Accompany with your grace those journeying toward baptism and call us all to repentance as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
O God, you are our life and our salvation. We give you thanks for the righteous who have died in faith. Inspire us by their example to proclaim your steadfast love. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Sending Hymn: 534 Savior, Again to Your Dear Name
Benediction
P: Abraham and Isaac came down from that mountain with a story to tell. It is still said to this day, “on the mountain fo the Lord it will be provided.” As you move through moments of confusion, as you walk through the experience of brokenness, may you learn to trust God’s promises, and come out on the other side with a story to tell. May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
C: Amen.
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