Announcements 03/09/2025
ANNOUNCEMENTS
REMINDER: Worship committee is meeting directly after service today. You will meet in the church library.
LENT STUDY: Hard and Holy Work: A Lenten Journey through the Book of Exodus. The study reflects on the brave action of the midwives Shiphrah and Puah and other faithful women in Exodus, Moses’ awakening to the plight of the Hebrew people, Moses’ life-changing encounter with the burning bush, the Israelites taking the risk of crossing the Red Sea, and more—alongside numerous contemporary stories—to help readers to see anew and contemplate how God is calling them to respond to what is not right in the world. Six books have been ordered from the PCUSA Store. They are $13 if you want to request one. You can also check Amazon. You have three ways you can join this Lent Study for those with crazy schedules. Sundays at 9:15a in the Library and Thursdays 9:30a in person in the Church Library or 6:30p on Zoom. Please let Briana know if you want to join online so she can send you the zoom link!
TABLE CLOTH DINNER: Next dinner will be Wednesday, March 12th at 6:30p. We will be meeting at Outback Steakhouse on 2746 Severn Ave in Metairie. Please see the form in the narthex to sign up.
PCUSA BOOK STUDY: PSL is starting The Inter-Church study of the book Generations by Jean Twenge. We will have our first meeting at 3pm on March 23 at Lakeview Presbyterian. More information is available on the flyer on the bulletin board in the Narthex. (RSVPs are not required, but helpful for planning.) Please feel free to share this with other church members. We look forward to discussing Chapter 1 and 2 (Intro and The Silent Generation) as a community on 3/23!
PLAY SCHOOL ART AND FUN FAIR: Mark your calendars. The playschool is having their annual art and fun festival on March 29 from 10a-3p. More information to come. Please see Sheryl Wise for ways to get involved!
CALENDAR:
3/10 Outreach Committee Meeting 10a
Playschool Committee Meeting 12:15a
3/13 PW Game Day 10a
3/16 Adult Sunday School Lent Study 9:15a
Worship Service 10:30a
Youth Church 10:45a
Ash Wednesday Prayer Service 03/05/2025
Ash Wednesday Prayer Service
March 5, 2025 Six O’ Clock in the Evening
Bolded Cross indicates congregational participation to stand in body or spirit.PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 46:1-3
Leader: 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.
ALL: God’s love endures forever!
Prayer of the Day:
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 [Blue#381 , GTG#416] O Come Unto the Lord
CALL TO REPENTANCE
Prayer of the Confession:
Merciful Creator,
Hymn [Blue#93 , GTG#218] Ah, Holy JesusPROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Homily “More Than an Organ” Elder Briana Mayfield
Response Hymn [Blue#81 , GTG#166] Lord, Who throughout These Forty Days
Journey to the Cross
*The Colors of the Sanctuary are Changed for the Season
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.
Meditation and Private Prayer.
Music will be played softly in the background. It is recommended that you read Psalm 51 during this time of reflection and soul searching.
LITANY OF PENITENCE One: Holy and Eternal One, allow us to return to You on bended knee, hearts full of sorrow. We ask for mercy as we reflect on our failures. We have not loved you with our whole heart, mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: We have not listened to your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved the Holy Spirit.
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: We confess to you, O God, all our past unfaithfulness. For the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives,
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: For our self-indulgent appetites and ways and our exploitation of people,
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: For our anger at our own frustration and our envy for those more fortunate than ourselves,
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: For our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: For our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: Accept our repentance, O God, for the wrongs we have done. For our neglect of human need and suffering and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: For all false judgements, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: For our waste and pollution of your creation and our lack of concern for those who come after us,
Many: Have mercy on us, O God.
One: Restore us, O God of our salvation, and show us your steadfast love.
Many: Turn to us in your mercy
and redeem us.
IMPOSITION of ASHES
One: Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth. May these ashes be for us a sign of our mortality and penitence, for it is only by your gracious gift are we given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
People are invited to come forward to receive the imposition of ashes. A worship leader marks the forehead of each person with the ashes, using the following words: “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19)”
After all who desire ashes have received them, the confession concludes with the following words:
One: Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation,
Many: that we may show forth your glory in the world.
One: By the cross and the passion of our Savior,
Many: bring us with all your saints to the joy of Christ’s resurrection.
Hymn [Blue#298 , GTG#435] There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
Responsive Prayer 2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 6:1-2
One: So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Many: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
One: As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.
Many: For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!
CHARGE and BENEDICTION
Those assembled are invited to leave in contemplative silence.
Service Leader: Elder Briana Mayfield
Pianist/Organist: Randy Martono-Chai
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STAFF |
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Church Office 504.888.1375
Playschool Office 504.888.1378
Briana Mayfield – Church Office Assistant
Lauren Crisler – Playschool Director
Stephanie Galliano – Playschool Admin. Asst.
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