Ash Wednesday Service
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Prelude John Fritz
Words of Welcome
Hymn
O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.
Prayer of Confession Psalm 51:1-17
Women: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Men: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Women: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Men: Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your
sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when
you pass judgment.
Women: Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
Men: You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in
my secret heart.
Women: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be
whiter than snow.
Men: Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed
rejoice.
Women: Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
EVERYONE: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right
spirit within me.
Men: Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy
spirit from me.
Women: Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing
spirit.
Men: Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to
you.
Women: Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation,
Men: and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
Women: O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
Men: For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering,
you would not be pleased.
EVERYONE: The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken
and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
A Time of Silent Confession
Receiving God’s Grace and Forgiveness Psalm 103:8-14
Leader: The Lord is merciful and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in
steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger
forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us
according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the
earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our
transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows
how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
People: We believe this Good News. We receive God’s forgiveness.
Old Testament Word Joel 2:12-13
(Silent Reflection)
New Testament Word Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Reflection Perfection is impossible. Transformation isn’t.
Hymn
The Lord is my song; the Lord is my praise: all my hope comes from God.
The Lord is my song; the Lord is my praise: God, the well-spring of life.
Lenten Commitment to God
What is something you can set down, give up, or let yourself off the hook for? Ask God to show you something that will become as symbol for spiritual resilience, which will in turn be a springboard to joy. Remember: a fast is giving up something – anything – to make more room for God.
Imposition of Ashes
Receive ashes either on your forehead or your hand.
“Sign Us With Ashes” by W. Rowan
Pam Sandford, Chuck Sandford, Trish Fritz, John Frit
Hymn
O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.
Prayer of Self Examination
Blessing and Benediction
You are invited to leave in silence.
