February 10, 2016
Ash Wednesday
Color: Purple
Lectionary Readings
Joel 2:1–2, 12–17 The day of the Lord is coming; return to God with all your heart.
or Isaiah 58:1–12 The fast God chooses: do justice, release captives, help the poor.
Psalm 51:1–17 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new spirit within me.
2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10 Be reconciled to God in Christ; now is the day of salvation!
Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21 Don’t flaunt your fasting and prayer; store up treasure in heaven.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
The Lord invites us to return with our whole heart.
We turn to God, because God
is gracious and merciful.
We have received the message of reconciliation,
and we are now Christ’s ambassadors.
Indeed, the right time is now.
The day of the Lord is coming.
Let us worship God.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer of the Day
Holy God, treasure of faithful hearts,
through Jesus Christ you taught us
how to pray, to give, to serve, to live.
Reshape, restore, and renew us
by the hidden power of your Spirit,
so that we may receive the way of life
that is the true reward of the faithful;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Note: In the service for Ash Wednesday, the Confession and Pardon may omitted if Psalm 51 and the Litany of Penitence are used later in the service.
Call to Confession
At the baptismal font:
Are you thirsty for grace?
Are you hungry for mercy?
God is calling; come to the waters.
Isaiah 55:1
Trusting in God’s grace,
let us confess our sin.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess
that we have sinned against you.
We make a great display of our piety
and fail to practice authentic prayer.
We give our hearts to earthly treasure
and turn our backs on heavenly favor.
Forgive us, God of grace.
Reconcile us to yourself
so that we might have the blessing
of abundant life in you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Declaration of Forgiveness
Lifting water from the baptismal font:
Listen, so that you may live:
The steadfast love of the Lord never fails.
Isaiah 55:3
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
God of all truth,
put a new and right spirit within us—
your Holy Spirit—
so that, as we listen for your Word
in the Scripture and the sermon,
we may hear your voice
and respond with courage. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
The Word is near to us,
on our lips and in our hearts.
Romans 10:8
After the readings:
This is the Word of faith
that we proclaim.
Thanks be to God.
Romans 10:8
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
Let every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.
Philippians 2:11
Invitation to Lenten Discipline
Psalm 51
Litany of Penitence
Imposition of Ashes
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Ash Wednesday
We believe that, for God,
pure and undefiled religion
is to visit the orphans
and the widows in their suffering.
We believe that God wishes
to teach the church
to do what is good
and to seek the right.
Adapted from the Confession of Belhar
Prayers of the People
Let us have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus
as we pray for the world he came to save,
saying: Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . .
Bring us through every obstacle and trial
so that we might be a living sign
of the new life you offer to all.
Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . .
Put an end to war and destruction.
Let the people of every nation
learn your ways of grace and peace.
Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . .
Help us to share our food with the hungry,
to welcome the homeless, clothe the naked,
and never to hide from neighbors in need.
Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Look with healing and compassion
on those who are troubled by sickness or sin.
Deliver them from every evil.
Have mercy, O God; hear our prayer.
As we pour out our hearts in prayer, O God,
lead us to pour out our lives in service to you—
ever seeking your will, ever following your way;
all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
All that we seek to accomplish,
all that we strive to achieve,
all that we claim to possess—
all of this amounts to nothing
without the grace of Christ.
With gratitude, let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Philippians 3:7–8
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
O God, we trust you
to be our refuge and fortress
in good times and in times of trouble.
Use the gifts we share today
to provide shelter for those who are homeless,
food for those who are hungry,
comfort for those who are afflicted,
and freedom for those who are oppressed.
We commit to you the gift of our money
and the gifts of our lives,
so that we may be instruments
of your healing in the world. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The fast that you desire is righteousness and justice, compassion and peace:
to feed the hungry, help the poor, welcome the stranger, and set captives free.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Jesus teaches sincerity of faith, and purity of heart in prayer and action—
not to make a spectacle of worship or charity, but to seek the inner gifts of grace;
not to store up treasures on earth, but to trust the heavenly treasure of your love.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Keep us faithful through hardship and suffering, hunger and sleepless nights.
Grant us purity, patience, kindness, holiness, truthful speech, and genuine love,
so that we may be reconciled to you through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
We give you thanks, O God,
for here at your table you have transformed us
from independent individuals
into the body of Christ.
Make us strong for your service
that we may be messengers
of your reconciling love for all people. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the Spirit of the triune God
strengthen and sustain you,
all throughout these forty days
and into the life that is to come. Amen.
Luke 4:1–2
Go in peace,
proclaiming the message of reconciliation
God has entrusted to us. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:19