Ash Wednesday Service- February 17, 2021

Posted on Feb 17, 2021 in Uncategorized |

ASH WEDNESDAY

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)

February 17, 2021

Six O’clock in the Evening

Minister: The Reverend Aaron Ochart

Please silence all cell phones.

Bold face indicates congregational participation.

GATHERING

WORDS OF WELCOME

PRELUDE

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive)

One: God sent Christ into the world

not to condemn the world,

but that the world might be saved through him.

Many: God’s love endures forever.

One: God is our refuge and strength, a present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though the waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

One: God’s love endures forever.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

All: Almighty God, you despise nothing you have made and you forgive the sins of all who trust in you. create in us new and contrite hearts, that truly repenting of our sins, and acknowledging our brokenness, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy, full pardon and forgiveness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

HYMN 81 “Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days”

Lord, who throughout these forty days For us didst fast and pray,

Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins, and close by Thee to stay.

Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering over past,

An Easter of unending joy we may attain at last!

PROCLAMATION

FIRST LESSON Luke 9:51-62

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

HOMILY “He Set His Face” The Rev. Aaron Ochart

RESPONSE

INVITATION to OBSERVE a HOLY LENT

Beloved people of God:

Every year at the time of the Christian Passover we celebrate our redemption through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lent is a time to prepare for that celebration and to renew our life in the paschal mystery.

We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need for repentance, and for the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We begin our journey to Easter with the sign of the ashes. This ancient sign speaks of the frailty and uncertainty of human life, and marks the penitence of this community. I invite you therefore, in the name of Christ, to observe a holy Lent by self examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by works of love, and by meditating on God’s word. Now let us bow before God, our creator and redeemer, and confess our sin.

A time of silence is kept for reflection and self-examination.

Psalm 51

One: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;

in your great compassion blot out my offences.

Many: Wash me through and through from my wickedness,

and cleanse me from my sin.

One: For I know my offenses,

and my sin is ever before me.

Many: Against you only have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are justified when you speak

and right in your judgement.

One: Indeed I was born steeped in wickedness,

a sinner from my mother’s womb.

Many: Indeed, you delight in truth deep within me,

and would have me know wisdom deep within.

One: Remove my sins with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

wash me, and I shall be purer than snow.

Many: Let me hear joy and gladness;

that the body you have broken may rejoice.

One: Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out my wickedness.

Many: Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

One: Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Many: Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

One: Let me teach your ways to offenders,

and sinners shall be restored to you.

Many: Rescue me from bloodshed, O God of my salvation,

and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness.

One: O LORD, open my lips,

and my mouth shall declare your praise.

Many: For you take no delight in sacrifice, or I would give it.

You are not pleased with burnt offering.

All: The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit;

a troubled and broken heart, O God, you will not despise.

LITANY OF PENITENCE

One: Holy and merciful God, we confess to you and one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on earth, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.