Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

The Congregation enters and waits in silence…

All of the liturgy is spoken

Opening Sentence (Joel 2:12,13a NRSV)

M: Yet even now, says the Lord, C: return to me with all your heart, M: with fasting, with weeping, and with

mourning; C: rend your hearts and not your

clothing.

M: In the Name of the Father † and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

HYMN

We sing:Take Thou my hand and lead me

LH 301 CAL 293So nimm denn meine Hände

Julie Hausmann 1825-1901 (1862)Tr composite, revised David Schubert (1988, 1997)

Take Thou my hand and lead me

1. Lord, take my hand and lead mealong life's way;

protect and guide and feed mefrom day to day.

Without your care and favourI go astray;

so take my hand, O Saviour,and lead the way.


2. Lord, take my heart and hide itwithin your grace;

through pain and pleasure guide itto be at peace.

Hold close your child, dear Saviour,and stay with me,

and help me trust wheneverI cannot see.


3. For when it seems you're hidingyour saving might,

still you are safely guidingme through the night.

So take my hand and lead mealong life's way;

protect and guide and feed meto endless day. †

M: The Lord be with youC: And also with you

M: Let us pray for God's mercy.C: Lord God, heavenly Father, you

desire to be merciful and are always more willing to pardon than to condemn. Listen to the prayers of your penitent people, and in your goodness set free all who are trapped in sin.

C: We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

THE READINGS (CEV)

Joel 2:1,2,12-17 A call to repentance CEV

R: The first reading for Ash Wednesday is written in chapter 2 of Joel beginning at verse 2.

Joel 2:1,2,12-17

Sound the trumpet on Zion, the LORD'S sacred hill. Warn everyone to tremble! The judgment day of the LORD is coming soon. 2It will be dark and gloomy with storm clouds overhead. Troops will cover the mountains like thunderclouds. No army this powerful has ever been gathered before or will ever be again.

Joel 2:1,2,12-17

12 The LORD said: It isn't too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating. 13Don't rip your clothes to show your sorrow. Instead, turn back to me with broken hearts.

Joel 2:1,2,12-17

I am merciful, kind, and caring. I don't easily lose my temper, and I don't like to punish. 14I am the LORD your God. Perhaps I will change my mind and treat you with mercy. Then you will be blessed with enough grain and wine for offering sacrifices to me.

Joel 2:1,2,12-17

15Sound the trumpet on Zion! Call the people together. Show your sorrow by going without food. 16Make sure that everyone is fit to worship me. Bring adults, children, babies, and even bring newlyweds from their festivities.

Joel 2:1,2,12-17

17Tell my servants, the priests, to cry inside the temple and to offer this prayer near the altar: "Save your people, LORD God! Don't let foreign nations make jokes about us. Don't let them laugh and ask, 'Where is your God?' "

This is the Word of the Lord.C: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 51:1-17 (CEV)

R: The Psalm is Psalm 51R: 1You are kind, God! Please have pity

on me. You are always merciful! Please wipe away my sins.

C: 2Wash me clean from all of my sin and guilt.

Psalm 51:1-17 (CEV)

R: 3I know about my sins, and I cannot forget my terrible guilt.

C: 4You are really the one I have sinned against; I have disobeyed you and have done wrong. So it is right and fair for you to correct and punish me.

Psalm 51:1-17 (CEV)

R: 5I have sinned and done wrong since the day I was born.

C: 6But you want complete honesty, so teach me true wisdom.

Psalm 51:1-17 (CEV)

R: 7Wash me with hyssop until I am clean and whiter than snow.

C: 8Let me be happy and joyful! You crushed my bones, now let them celebrate.

Psalm 51:1-17 (CEV)

R: 9Turn your eyes from my sin and cover my guilt.

C: 10Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again.

Psalm 51:1-17 (CEV)

R: 11Don't chase me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me.

C: 12Make me as happy as you did when you saved me; make me want to obey!

Psalm 51:1-17 (CEV)

R: 13I will teach sinners your Law, and they will return to you.

C: 14Keep me from any deadly sin. Only you can save me! Then I will shout and sing about your power to save.

Psalm 51:1-17 (CEV)

R: 15Help me to speak, and I will praise you, LORD.

C: 16Offerings and sacrifices are not what you want.

Psalm 51:1-17 (CEV)

R: 17The way to please you is to feel sorrow deep in our hearts. This is the kind of sacrifice you won't refuse.

C: Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit;

As it was in the beginning is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 (CEV)

R: The Second Reading is written in chapter 5 of Second Corinthians beginning at verse 20.


We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God. Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God.


We work together with God, and we beg you to make good use of God’s kindness to you. In the Scriptures God says, “When the time came, I listened to you, and when you needed help, I came to save you.” That time has come. This is the day for you to be saved.


We don’t want anyone to find fault with our work, and so we try hard not to cause problems. But in everything and in every way we show that we truly are God’s servants. We have always been patient, though we have had a lot of trouble, suffering, and hard times. We have been beaten, put in jail, and hurt in riots.


We have worked hard and have gone without sleep or food. But we have kept ourselves pure and have been understanding, patient and kind. The Holy Spirit has been with us, and our love has been real. We have spoken the truth, and God’s power has worked in us. In all our struggles we have said and done only what is right.


Whether we were honoured or dishonoured or praised or cursed, we always told the truth about ourselves. But some people said we did not. We are unknown to others, but well known to you. We seem to be dying, and yet we are still alive.


We have been punished, but never killed, and we are always happy, even in times of suffering. Although we are poor, we have made many people rich. And though we own nothing, everything is ours.


R: This is the Word of the Lord.C: Thanks be to God. For our sake, God made him to be

sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (CEV)

M: The Holy Gospel is written in Chapter 6 of the Gospel according to St Matthew, beginning at verse 1.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (CEV)

Jesus said to his disciples: When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (CEV)

When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the meeting places and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (CEV)

When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (CEV)

When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (CEV)

When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (CEV)

When you go without eating, don’t try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward. Instead, comb your hair and wash your face. Then others won’t know that you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (CEV)

Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (CEV)

M: This is the gospel of the Lord.C: Praise to you, O Christ.M: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving up

everything for us. Make us truly repentant, and help us to worship God in our hearts.

C: Amen.

We sing the Hymn

We thank you, God, for eyes to see

LHS 820 CAL 293Jeanette Perkins Brown 1887-1960


1. We thank you, God, for eyes to seethe beauty of the earth;for ears to hear the words of loveand happy sounds of mirth;for minds that find new thoughts to

think,new wonders to explore;for health and freedom to enjoythe good you have in store.


2. Help us remember that to somethe eye and ear and mindbrings sights and sounds of

ugliness,and only sadness find;help us remember that to themthe world has seemed unfair;for we must strive to give to themthe beauty all may share.


3. O may our eyes be open, Lord,to see our neighbour’s need;and may our ears be kept alerttheir cries for help to heed;make keen our minds to plan the

bestfor one another’s good,that all the world may be at lasta caring neighbourhood. †

Sermon

Our Lord Jesus speaks to us

Through his WordThrough our Pastor

Imposition of Ashes

M: We are all born weak and helpless. C: All lead the same short, troubled

life. M: We grow and wither as quickly as

flowers; we disappear like shadows. C: In the midst of life we are in

death.

Imposition of Ashes

M: To whom can we go for help, but to you, Lord God,

C: though you are rightly displeased because of our sins?

Imposition of Ashes

M: And yet, Lord God Almighty, most holy and most merciful Saviour,

C: deliver us from the bitterness of eternal death.

Imposition of Ashes

M: You know the secrets of our hearts; C: mercifully hear us, most worthy

judge eternal; M: keep us, at our last hour, in the

consolation of your love. C: Amen.

Imposition of Ashes

M: Dust we are and to dust we shall return.

C: Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. M: May these ashes † be for us a sign of

our mortality and penitence, and a reminder that we receive eternal life by God's gift alone, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

C: Amen.

Imposition of Ashes

Those who desire to receive ashes may come forward. Be sure to encourage children as well as adults to participate. The minister makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of each person with ashes, saying:

EITHER Remember that you are dust, and to

dust you shall return.OR Repent, and believe the gospel.

Responsive Prayer

M: Lord, have mercy.C: Christ, have mercy.M: Lord, have mercy.

M: O Lord, have mercy on me.C: Heal me, for I have sinned against

you.M: Turn to us again, O Lord! C: Have pity on your servants.

Responsive Prayer

M: Let your goodness and love be with us,

C: as we put our hope in you.M: Let your priests be clothed with

righteousness,C: and let your saints shout for joy.M: Save your people, and bless your

heritage;C: be their shepherd, and carry them

forever.

Responsive Prayer

M: Remember your church,C: which you redeemed long ago.M: Peace be within its walls,C: and security within its towers.M: Let us pray for our absent brothers

and sisters.C: O Lord, our God, save your

servants who trust in you.

Responsive Prayer

M: Let us pray for God's people who are broken-hearted and oppressed.

C: Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles.

M: Send us help from your holy place,C: and give us support from Zion.M: Restore us, O God almighty.C: Let your face shine upon us that we

may be saved.

Responsive Prayer

M: Rise up, O Christ, come to our help.C: Deliver us for the sake of your

love.M: Give peace in our time, O Lord.C: There is no-one who fights for us,

except you, O God.

M: The Lord be with you.C: And also with you.

Responsive Prayer

M: Let us pray.O God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all right works come from you. Give your servants that peace which the world cannot give. Defend us from the fear of our enemies, and set our hearts to obey your commandments, so that we may live on earth in rest and quietness.

Responsive Prayer

M: We ask this through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

We sing :Stricken, smitten, and afflicted

LH 70 CAL 293Thomas Kelly 1769-1855, alt.

As we sing our offerings will be received.

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted

1. Beaten, wounded, and afflicted,see him dying on the tree;this is Christ, the one rejected,yes, my soul, this man is he.He's the long-expected prophet,David's Son, yet David's Lord;proofs I see sufficient of it:he's the true and faithful Word.

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted2. Tell me, you that hear him groaning,was there ever grief like his?Friends through fear his cause

disowning,foes insulting his distress;many hands were raised to wound him,none would interpose to save;but the deepest stroke that pierced himwas the stroke that Justice gave.


3. You that think of sin but lightly,nor suppose the evil great,here may view its nature rightly,here its guilt may estimate.Note the sacrifice appointed;see who bears the awful load;Christ, the Word, the Lord's

anointed,Son of man and Son of God.


4. Here we have a firm foundation,here the refuge of the lost;Christ's the rock of our salvation,his the name of which we boast.Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,sacrifice to cancel guilt!None shall ever be defeatedwho on him their hope have built.

†

OFFERING PRAYERC: Loving heavenly Father, thank you

for sending your Son to take our sin and reconcile us to you. Lead us to live as your forgiven people. Keep us from showing off our piety, and from complaining when we have troubles. Help us to discipline ourselves and show the same patience and generosity to others as you have shown to us. Amen.

Liturgy of Holy Communion (All spoken)

M: The Lord be with you.C: And also with you.M: Lift up your hearts.C: We lift them to the Lord.M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our

God.C: It is right to give him thanks and

praise.

Liturgy of Holy Communion

M: It is indeed right and good, Lord God, holy Father, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. He has taken on himself our sin, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

And so, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we adore and praise your glorious name:


C: Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might: heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.


C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.


C: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. Come Lord Jesus.


M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take and eat, this is † my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.


M: In the same way he took the cup, after the supper, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and said, Drink of it, all of you; this is † my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.


C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C: Amen.


C: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

The Invitation

M: Every time we eat this bread and drink from this cup we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

C: Thanks be to God.M: Come, everything is ready.

(We commune in silence)

The Dismissal

M: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ make you strong in body and soul to life eternal. † Go in peace.

C: Amen.

M: Let us pray: C: Lord God, heavenly Father, you

desire to be merciful and are always more willing to pardon than to condemn.

C: Listen to the prayers of your penitent people, who have received your body and blood in this sacrament, and in your goodness set free all who are trapped in sin.

C: We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Blessing

M: Christ our crucified Saviour draw you to himself, so that you may find in him the assurance of sins forgiven and the gift of eternal life;

Almighty God, Father, † Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and for ever.

C: Amen.

The Commission

M: Go in peace to serve the Lord as his repentant and forgiven people.

C: In the name of Christ. Amen.

We sing the Hymn


LHS 820 CAL 293Jeanette Perkins Brown 1887-1960


1. We thank you, God, for eyes to seethe beauty of the earth;for ears to hear the words of loveand happy sounds of mirth;for minds that find new thoughts to

think,new wonders to explore;for health and freedom to enjoythe good you have in store.


2. Help us remember that to somethe eye and ear and mindbrings sights and sounds of ugliness,and only sadness find;help us remember that to themthe world has seemed unfair;for we must strive to give to themthe beauty all may share.


3. O may our eyes be open, Lord,to see our neighbour’s need;and may our ears be kept alerttheir cries for help to heed;make keen our minds to plan the bestfor one another’s good,that all the world may be at lasta caring neighbourhood.

†

You may take a moment for silent prayer

The Congregation leaves in silence

Documents

Ash Wednesday