Ash Wednesday
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids, Cradled in God's Heart
Series VIII, Cycle A
Object:
(Note: We use Taizé songs for our worship, but other songs can be substituted for other congregations.)
Silent Prayer In Preparation For Worship
As you begin this service, take a few moments to bring yourself before God -- your present state of mind and preoccupations, as well as your desire to meet God during this time.
Call To Worship
One: God's people have been called to gather.
All: From breast-feeding infants to aged grandparents,
all are welcome.
One: God's people have been called to repent.
All: From those who wear their faults on their sleeves
to those whose secret hearts are broken,
all are welcome.
One: God's people have been called to be reconciled to our God.
All: From those who have turned away,
to those whose pain whispers in the night,
all are welcome.
Taizé Song, "Wait For The Lord"
Prayer Of The Day
God of Holiness,
your day comes near
and we tremble,
not out of fear,
but from awe and gratitude.
For on your day,
we are fully known,
completely restored,
reconciled to you forever.
Jesus Christ,
Grace Bearer,
as we come to your fast,
may we be filled with your hope;
as we receive your gifts,
may our hearts be opened to others;
as we begin our journey with you,
may we put no roadblocks
in the path to Jerusalem.
Holy Spirit,
Creator of Clean Hearts,
as water rushes into an empty hole,
may your sacramental silence fill the emptiness of our souls.
God in Community, Holy in One,
our Treasure, our Hope, our Joy,
hear us as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Taizé Song, "In The Lord, I'll Be Ever Thankful"
Read Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Taizé Song, "Our Darkness"
Psalm 51 (read in unison)
Taizé Song, "In God Alone My Soul"
Read 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
Taizé Song, "Our Eyes"
Read Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Silence is observed (ten minutes)
Invitation To Lenten Disciplines
Beloved in Christ,
at the time of the Christian Passover,
we celebrate our deliverance from sin and death
through the death and resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lent is the season of preparation
for this great celebration,
the means by which we renew our lives
in the Paschal mystery.
We begin our Lenten journey
by acknowledging our need for repentance,
for in penitence,
we name those things
that damage us and others
for what they really are,
and we open ourselves
to the One whose love knows no boundaries
and whose mercy is demonstrated to us
in the life of Jesus Christ.
By taking an honest look at our lives,
and repenting of our humanness;
by praying quietly,
but with full hearts;
by letting go of those things that harm us
and by taking on works of love for others;
by reading and feasting on God's word,
we observe a holy Lent,
and prepare ourselves for the passion of Holy Week
and the joy of Easter.
Let us prepare ourselves to come to our God.
Taizé Song, "O Lord, Hear My Prayer"
Call To Reconciliation
God begs us to turn from those words, those acts, and those obstacles that keep us from being God's people. As we begin our Lenten journey, I invite you to join with me, with words and in silence, as we bring our brokenness to God who desires to make us whole.
Unison Prayer Of Confession
Too long we have traveled our own ways, Approaching God, too long we have sought to satisfy our hidden desires. We have trusted the falsehoods of the world, and relied on the power that would consume our souls. We have sought healing from imposters, and rejected the One who was broken for our wholeness.
Have mercy on us, God whose love overflows our deepest hopes. Let our hearts be a sanctuary for your Spirit; let our lives abound in service to others; let our spirits reflect the One we call our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: God lets go of the punishment we deserve and gives us mercy in its place. Willingly, God puts a new spirit into us, the spirit of hope and joy.
All: We will sing to the One who has delivered us from our sins. We will praise God with cleansed hearts. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Imposition Of The Ashes
Our ancestors in the faith
used ashes as a sign of our repentance,
a symbol of the uncertainty
and fragility of human life.
Like them,
we have tasted the ashes of hopelessness;
we have walked through the ashes of our loss and pain;
we have stood knee-deep in the ashes of our brokenness.
God of our Lives,
out of the dust of creation
you have formed us and given us life.
May these ashes not only be a sign,
of our repentance and death,
but reminders that by your gift of grace
in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer,
we are granted life forever with you. Amen.
(A period of silence will follow. Those who wish to do so, may come forward to have the sign of the cross placed on their foreheads or hands. The ashes are from palm branches used at Palm Sunday services in the past, mixed with oil.)
Invitation To The Table (from Isaiah 58)
Great Prayer Of Thanksgiving
One: People of God, the Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: People of dust, lift up your hearts to God.
All: We lift them up to the One who created us.
One: People of ashes, give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: Praise and thanks are offered to the One
who restores us to life.
Now is the right time to praise you;
now is the moment to sing your praises,
Holy God of Creation.
You formed us to live in joy
and peace with you,
but we tore your heart
when we chose our desires
over your dreams for us.
We prefer to swim in the cesspool of the world
rather than to be cleansed in your living waters.
We hunger more for the adulation of others than
for the quiet intimacy of your grace.
Yet, you did not turn away from us,
but remained true to your covenant,
calling us to return in the words
trumpeted by the prophets;
inviting us to gather in your kingdom,
entreating us to accept your overflowing love.
Therefore, we glorify you,
joining our voices with those
who had wandered far from you,
but who were brought home;
and with those who seek you now
in this time and place.
Taizé Song, "Bless The Lord"
Holy are you, Steadfast Love,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
Bread of Life.
Considered a pretender to David's throne,
he is your heart's true Son.
Taking on the poverty of the human spirit,
he shared the abundance of your heart;
weeping over our broken relationships,
he reconciles us with your saving joy;
having nothing he could call his own,
he gives us more than we ever need;
dying like a common criminal,
he gives us life,
releasing us from the grip of sin and death.
Preparing to journey with him once again,
we remember the mystery
of his faithful obedience to your heart.
Taizé Song, "Jesus Christ, Bread Of Life"
Holy Spirit, Heart of Compassion,
as the ashes of our humanity
are placed upon your baptismal seal,
so the brokenness of our lives
is placed on the table of grace,
that the bread might make us whole,
and the cup might fill us with hope.
Then, in your wisdom,
may we turn to serve others;
in your joy,
may we bear the burdens of others;
in your grace,
may our love overflow to others.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the community of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor are yours,
God of Holiness,
now and forever. Amen.
The Breaking Of The Bread And The Sharing Of The Cup
Taizé Song, "Eat This Bread"
(Sing this as you receive communion)
Prayers Of Petition
Taizé Song, "Jesus Remember Me"
Please depart the sanctuary in silence.
Silent Prayer In Preparation For Worship
As you begin this service, take a few moments to bring yourself before God -- your present state of mind and preoccupations, as well as your desire to meet God during this time.
Call To Worship
One: God's people have been called to gather.
All: From breast-feeding infants to aged grandparents,
all are welcome.
One: God's people have been called to repent.
All: From those who wear their faults on their sleeves
to those whose secret hearts are broken,
all are welcome.
One: God's people have been called to be reconciled to our God.
All: From those who have turned away,
to those whose pain whispers in the night,
all are welcome.
Taizé Song, "Wait For The Lord"
Prayer Of The Day
God of Holiness,
your day comes near
and we tremble,
not out of fear,
but from awe and gratitude.
For on your day,
we are fully known,
completely restored,
reconciled to you forever.
Jesus Christ,
Grace Bearer,
as we come to your fast,
may we be filled with your hope;
as we receive your gifts,
may our hearts be opened to others;
as we begin our journey with you,
may we put no roadblocks
in the path to Jerusalem.
Holy Spirit,
Creator of Clean Hearts,
as water rushes into an empty hole,
may your sacramental silence fill the emptiness of our souls.
God in Community, Holy in One,
our Treasure, our Hope, our Joy,
hear us as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Taizé Song, "In The Lord, I'll Be Ever Thankful"
Read Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Taizé Song, "Our Darkness"
Psalm 51 (read in unison)
Taizé Song, "In God Alone My Soul"
Read 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
Taizé Song, "Our Eyes"
Read Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Silence is observed (ten minutes)
Invitation To Lenten Disciplines
Beloved in Christ,
at the time of the Christian Passover,
we celebrate our deliverance from sin and death
through the death and resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lent is the season of preparation
for this great celebration,
the means by which we renew our lives
in the Paschal mystery.
We begin our Lenten journey
by acknowledging our need for repentance,
for in penitence,
we name those things
that damage us and others
for what they really are,
and we open ourselves
to the One whose love knows no boundaries
and whose mercy is demonstrated to us
in the life of Jesus Christ.
By taking an honest look at our lives,
and repenting of our humanness;
by praying quietly,
but with full hearts;
by letting go of those things that harm us
and by taking on works of love for others;
by reading and feasting on God's word,
we observe a holy Lent,
and prepare ourselves for the passion of Holy Week
and the joy of Easter.
Let us prepare ourselves to come to our God.
Taizé Song, "O Lord, Hear My Prayer"
Call To Reconciliation
God begs us to turn from those words, those acts, and those obstacles that keep us from being God's people. As we begin our Lenten journey, I invite you to join with me, with words and in silence, as we bring our brokenness to God who desires to make us whole.
Unison Prayer Of Confession
Too long we have traveled our own ways, Approaching God, too long we have sought to satisfy our hidden desires. We have trusted the falsehoods of the world, and relied on the power that would consume our souls. We have sought healing from imposters, and rejected the One who was broken for our wholeness.
Have mercy on us, God whose love overflows our deepest hopes. Let our hearts be a sanctuary for your Spirit; let our lives abound in service to others; let our spirits reflect the One we call our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: God lets go of the punishment we deserve and gives us mercy in its place. Willingly, God puts a new spirit into us, the spirit of hope and joy.
All: We will sing to the One who has delivered us from our sins. We will praise God with cleansed hearts. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Imposition Of The Ashes
Our ancestors in the faith
used ashes as a sign of our repentance,
a symbol of the uncertainty
and fragility of human life.
Like them,
we have tasted the ashes of hopelessness;
we have walked through the ashes of our loss and pain;
we have stood knee-deep in the ashes of our brokenness.
God of our Lives,
out of the dust of creation
you have formed us and given us life.
May these ashes not only be a sign,
of our repentance and death,
but reminders that by your gift of grace
in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer,
we are granted life forever with you. Amen.
(A period of silence will follow. Those who wish to do so, may come forward to have the sign of the cross placed on their foreheads or hands. The ashes are from palm branches used at Palm Sunday services in the past, mixed with oil.)
Invitation To The Table (from Isaiah 58)
Great Prayer Of Thanksgiving
One: People of God, the Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: People of dust, lift up your hearts to God.
All: We lift them up to the One who created us.
One: People of ashes, give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: Praise and thanks are offered to the One
who restores us to life.
Now is the right time to praise you;
now is the moment to sing your praises,
Holy God of Creation.
You formed us to live in joy
and peace with you,
but we tore your heart
when we chose our desires
over your dreams for us.
We prefer to swim in the cesspool of the world
rather than to be cleansed in your living waters.
We hunger more for the adulation of others than
for the quiet intimacy of your grace.
Yet, you did not turn away from us,
but remained true to your covenant,
calling us to return in the words
trumpeted by the prophets;
inviting us to gather in your kingdom,
entreating us to accept your overflowing love.
Therefore, we glorify you,
joining our voices with those
who had wandered far from you,
but who were brought home;
and with those who seek you now
in this time and place.
Taizé Song, "Bless The Lord"
Holy are you, Steadfast Love,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
Bread of Life.
Considered a pretender to David's throne,
he is your heart's true Son.
Taking on the poverty of the human spirit,
he shared the abundance of your heart;
weeping over our broken relationships,
he reconciles us with your saving joy;
having nothing he could call his own,
he gives us more than we ever need;
dying like a common criminal,
he gives us life,
releasing us from the grip of sin and death.
Preparing to journey with him once again,
we remember the mystery
of his faithful obedience to your heart.
Taizé Song, "Jesus Christ, Bread Of Life"
Holy Spirit, Heart of Compassion,
as the ashes of our humanity
are placed upon your baptismal seal,
so the brokenness of our lives
is placed on the table of grace,
that the bread might make us whole,
and the cup might fill us with hope.
Then, in your wisdom,
may we turn to serve others;
in your joy,
may we bear the burdens of others;
in your grace,
may our love overflow to others.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the community of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor are yours,
God of Holiness,
now and forever. Amen.
The Breaking Of The Bread And The Sharing Of The Cup
Taizé Song, "Eat This Bread"
(Sing this as you receive communion)
Prayers Of Petition
Taizé Song, "Jesus Remember Me"
Please depart the sanctuary in silence.
