The Names of GodThe Names of GodAsh WednesdayAsh Wednesday

February 26, 2020February 26, 2020Theme: ElohimTheme: Elohim

As We GatherOn this day the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ begins a holy season of prayerful and penitential reflection and devotion. Our attention is especially directed to the holy innocent sufferings and death of our Savior, Jesus. From ancient times the season of Lent has been kept as a time of special devotion, self-denial, and humble repentance born of a faithful heart that dwells confidently in His Word and draws from it life and hope. Since the beginning of its observance in the seventh century, it has been called Ash Wednesday, based on the practice of placing ashes on the forehead in the sign of a cross as these words are spoken, “From dust you are and unto dust you shall return.” These words drawn from Genesis 3:19 are a symbol of our repentance, mortality, and need for a Savior. Our service today includes the opportunity for worshipers to receive the imposition of the ashen cross on their forehead. If you would like to receive the ashen cross, proceed down the center aisle at the time noted in the service bulletin. For private meditation during this time you may wish to read Psalm 32, 51 or 90 in the front portion of the pew hym-nal.

Names mean something. This Lenten season we will be looking at the names of God and of Jesus. These names will help define God, for in these names He re-veals His character. Our Lenten devotions are being prepared by Marilyn Staar-gaard. Each devotion will highlight a different name and character of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our Lenten schedule is as follows: Today February 26: Ash Wednesday “Elohim”; March 4: “I Am Who I Am – Yahweh (Jehovah)”; March 11 “Father (Abba)”; March 18: “The Arm of the Lord”; March 25: “The Good Shep-herd” and April 1: “High Priest, Advocate, Mediator.”

Prelude Jesu, Dulcis Memoria - Gerald Near

Dave Wagner, organist

Opening Hymn 246 Holy, Holy, Holy

1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

3. Holy, holy, holy! Tho’ the darkness hide Thee, Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Invocation P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.C: Amen.

Old Testament Lesson Genesis: 1:1, 26-27, 31In the beginning Elohim created heaven and earth. Then Elohim said, “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.” So Elohim created humans in his image. In the image of Elohim he created them. He created them male and female. And Elohim saw everything that he had made and that it was very good. There was evening, then morning—the sixth day.

Children’s Message

Gospel Lesson John 1:1-5In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; with-out him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Hymn of the Day 339 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

1. All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.

2. Crown Him, ye martyrs of our God, who from His altar call; Extol the Stem of Jesse’s rod, and crown Him Lord of all. Extol the Stem of Jesse’s rod, and crown Him Lord of all.

3. Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, Ye ransomed from the Fall, Hail Him who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all. Hail Him who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.

Sermon Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 31“The Names of God”

ElohimRev. Randall J. Schlak

Offering

1:00 Offerings will be received at the door

7:00 Jesus Paid It All - Helvey Chancel Choir

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer

Confession and AbsolutionP: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” God made Adam, man of dust, in His image.C: Who are we, Lord, that You are mindful of us and care for us? You have made

us little less than Yourself, crowning us with glory and honor.P: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” We deserve God’s curse for we have sinned.C: You turn us back to dust, Lord. Before the day we die, we come to You with

ashes upon our lives, the mark of the curse. We turn from our sin to face You, Lord. Forgive us and restore us, for Jesus’ sake, and speak to us another word besides “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

P: Assembled to hear God’s Word and receive His blessed Son, we admit that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful nature. Therefore, we take refuge in God’s infinite mercy, seeking and imploring His grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, be merciful to us.

C: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to life everlasting.

P: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy on you and has given His only Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of the Word I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

Words of Institution

Distribution of the Lord’s Supper

Anthem

1:00 Special MusicSteve SeGraves, vocalist

7:00 Communion - Richard PurvisDave Wagner, organist

Imposition of Ashes[If desired, worshipers may approach the altar to receive the imposition of ashes upon the forehead. You are encouraged to approach the altar down the center aisle, in two rows, and return down the side aisles. The pastors will speak the words, “Dust you are and to dust you shall return.” The pastor will continue when all have returned to their places.]

Sung During Imposition of Ashes – 1:00 The Agnus Dei (Hymn 147)O Christ Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. O Christ Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.O Christ Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. (Repeat throughout Imposition of Ashes)

Anthem – 7:00 (during imposition of Ashes) Ave Verum Corpus – Mozart Chancel Choir

Ave, verum corpusnatum de Maria Virgine,Vere passum immolatum

in Cruce pro homine,Cujus latus perforatum

unda fluxit (et) sanguine,Esto nobis praegustatum

in mortis examine.

Hail,true bodyborn of the Virgin Mary,

Who truly suffered, sacrificedon the Cross for man,

Whose pierced side overflowedwith water and blood,Be for us a foretasteIn the test of death.

BenedictionP: The Lord God formed the man of the dust from the ground and breathed into

his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (Gen. 2:7)C: Dust we are and unto dust we shall return. (Gen 3:19)P: Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the im-

age of the man of heaven. (1 Cor. 15:49) The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace.

C: Amen.

Closing Hymn 158 Glory Be To Jesus

1. Glory be to Jesus, who in bitter pains Poured for me the lifeblood from His sacred veins!

2. Grace and life eternal in that blood I find; Blest be His compassion, infinitely kind!

3. Blest through endless ages be the precious stream Which from endless torments did the world redeem!

Postlude All Praise to Thee, My God this Night (Tallis Canon) - Paul ManzDave Wagner, organist

As is the tradition, the palms were burned from previous Palm Sunday services and the resulting ashes are being

used in today’s services.

Thanks and appreciation to:Steve SeGraves for providing special music at the 1:00 pm service

and the Chancel Choir for providing special music at the 7:00 pm service.

OrganistDave Wagner

Acolytes7:00 - Caroline Lagoe and Lauren Lund

Cross Bearers7:00 - Tommy Lewis

Ushers1:00 - Bob Stewart

7:00 - Jim Grove, captain; Jim Endress, Bill Couger, Jeff Kidder, Peter Pridmore, Kevin Browett

Elders Assisting with Communion7:00 - Mike Raezler and Andy Tafel

Audio/Video Operators7:00 - Greg Merryman and David Hardoin

Our Lenten Meal Preparers:(lunch): Kim Davis

(supper): Kitty Sweitzer and Women’s Ministry

TheTheNAMESNAMES

OF GOD OF GOD

Ash WednesdayFebruary 26, 20201:00 p.m./7:00 p.m.

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer1800 W. Maple

Birmingham, Michigan 48009

LENTEN MID-WEEK SERVICESWednesday, March 4

I Am Who I Am - Yahweh (Jehovah)

Wednesday, March 11Father (Abba)

Wednesday, March 18The Arm of the Lord

Wednesday, March 25The Good ShepherdWednesday, April 1

High Priest, Advocate, Mediator

1:00pm - 1:00pm - Chapel; Chapel; 7:00pm 7:00pm - Sanctuary- SanctuaryEach worship service is preceded by a meal Each worship service is preceded by a meal 12:00 noon and 6:00pm / 5:30pm -confirmands12:00 noon and 6:00pm / 5:30pm -confirmands

HOLY WEEK SERVICES Maundy Thursday, April 9

Bread of LifeGood Friday, April 10

My God1:00pm and 7:00pm each day

EASTER SERVICESJesus

Easter Eve Service - April 11 5:00pm

Easter Sunday Services - April 12 7:30, 9:00 and 10:30am

Easter Egg Hunt to follow both Saturday 5:00pm

and Sunday 10:30am Services.