Ash Wednesday
See Also:Ash Wednesday and LentandAsh Wednesday Support
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
[Divide this up as you would like; it will work as leader/people, two readers, multiple readers… however you would like.]
Blow the trumpet! Yes, blow 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.
The day of the Lord isa day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Like blackness spread upon the mountains, a great and powerful army comes.
Nothing like it has ever been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come.
Yet even now, the Lord is saying, “Return to me with all your heart.
Return to me with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.
Tear open your hearts and not your clothing.”
Return then to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious.
He is full of mercy.
He is slow to anger.
He abounds in steadfast love.
He holds back from punishing.
Who will turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind.
Who will present a grain offering and a drink offering to the Lord, your God?
Blow the trumpet! Yes, blow the trumpet in Zion.
Sanctify a fast.
Call a solemn assembly.
Gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation.
Assemble those who are advanced in age.
Gather the children, even the nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom and bride leave their wedding chamber.
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.
Let them speak for us to the Lord saying,
"Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations.
Is there any reason anyone should ever have to ask, ‘Where is their God?' "
Hymn/Song Suggestions:
“If with All Your Hearts” (tenor solo from ELIJAH)
Available for congregational singing
“Sound the Trumpet” (Purcell) – Ovid Young arrangement as Hale & Wilder duet; published for two-part choir
Anthem:
“He Will Quiet You with His Love” (Cindy Berry)
Psalm 51:1-17
Lots of Suggestions at This Link
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
[We have made an attempt to turn a “sermon” by Paul into statements of faith which might relate to today’s believers; this is definitely a reading “from” the passage!]
Responsive Reading from 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10
Leader: On behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
People: For our sake,God made Christ to be sin for us.
Leader: Christ knew no sin, but he became sin.
People: He did this so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Leader: As we work together, let us not accept the grace of God in vain.
People: Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!
Leader: As servants of God we have proven ourselves through great endurance,
People: …in afflictions, hardships and calamities,
Leaders: …through beatings, imprisonments and riots,
People: …amid hard labor, sleepless nights and hunger.
Leader: We have been able to do this by personal purity,
People: …with knowledge and patience,
Leader: …through kindness and holiness of spirit,
People: …together with genuine love and truthful speech.
Leader By the power of God we were provided with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left, in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute.
People: When treated as impostors, yet we are true to our calling.
Leader: When thought of as unknown, yet we are well known.
People: Some have considered us as dying, but see - we are very much alive.
Leader: We are punished, and yet not killed.
People: We are sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.
Leader: We are poor, yet we are making many rich.
People: We have nothing, and yet we possess everything.
Hymn/Song Suggestions:
“Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”
“In His Time”
“This Is a Day of New Beginnings”
“I Want to Know Christ”
“Purer in Heart”
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
[This reading may be done as one long reading OR as four short readings. See suggestion below.]
Leader: Hear these words of Jesus about giving:
People: "Beware of practicing your religiosity before others in order to be seen by them.
Leader:If you do that, you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
People: When you make a contribution, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the place of worship and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others.
Leader: Here is the truth: they have already received their reward.
People: When you give your offerings, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
Leader:Give your offerings in secret.
People: Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Leader: Hear these words of Jesus about praying:
People: "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites who love to stand and pray in the place of worship and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others.
Leader: Here is the truth: they have already received their reward.
People: When you pray, go into your room and shut the door.
Leader: Pray to your Father who is in secret.
People: Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Leader: Hear these words of Jesus about fasting:
People: "When you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites who disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting.
Leader: Here is the truth: they have already received their reward.
People: When you fast, put oil on your head and let your face be bright.
Leader: Let your fasting be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret.
People: Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Leader: Hear these words of Jesus about investing:
People: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal.
Leader: Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
People: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
See Next Page for Suggestions:
SUGGESTION: Read a section, follow it with appropriate musical responses (hymns, choruses, anthems, solos) which reinforce that section. Here are some possibilities:
Section One- Giving
Chorus – “We Are an Offering”
“We Give Thee but Thine Own”
Section Two – Praying
Hymn – “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”
“Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire”
“Sweet Hour of Prayer”
“Near to the Heart of God”
“Come and Find the QuietCenter” (FWS 2128)
Chorus – “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying”
“In the Secret, in the Quiet Place”
“O, I Want to Know You, Lord”
Hymn Refrain – “Tell It to Jesus”
Section Three –Fasting
Hymn/Chorus - “Search Me, O God”, “Change My Heart, O God”
Hymn - “Take Time to Be Holy”
“Just As I Am” (use soloist on the TABERNACLE tune)
“Break Thou the Bread of Life”
Anthem – “Know My Heart” (Benjamin Harlan)
“Create in Me a Clean Heart” (many settings)
“Restore My Joy” (Cindy Berry)
Section Four – Investing
Hymn/Solo – “I’d Rather Have Jesus”