Ash Wednesday February 18, :00 p.m.

Transcription

1 Ash Wednesday February 18, :00 p.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church

2 The Lenten Journey Begins Preparation for Worship Lent is a time of returning to God. It is a time to confess how we keep looking for joy, peace, and satisfaction in many people and things surrounding us, without really finding what we desire. Only God can give us what we want Lent is a time of refocusing, of reentering the place of truth, of reclaiming our true identity. (Henri J. M. Nouwen, Sabbatical Journey: The Diary of His Final Year) Organ Prelude Absoute Armand Vivet Opening Words We come to worship God as the Lenten season begins, aware of our frailty and our failings. We come seeking God s mercy, acknowledging our mortality. Having received the waters of baptism, we come to be marked now with ashes. May we humble ourselves before God, not with the yoke of burden, but a mantle of freedom in Jesus name. *Hymn #166 Lord, Who throughout These Forty Days ST. FLAVIAN Call to Confession Prayer of Confession Psalm 51 Verses: Choir Refrain: All 2

3 Have mercy on me, O God, in Your kindness; in Your compassion blot out my offense. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. My offenses, truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against You, You alone, have I sinned; what is evil in Your sight I have done. (Refrain) That You may be justified when You give sentence and be without reproach when You judge, O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner was I conceived. Indeed, You love truth in the heart; then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom. O purify me, then I shall be clean; O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. (Refrain) Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones You have crushed may thrill. From my sins turn away Your face and blot out all my guilt. A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, nor deprive me of Your holy spirit. (Refrain) Give me again the joy of Your help; with a spirit of fervor sustain me, that I may teach transgressors Your ways and sinners may return to You. O rescue me, God, my helper, and my tongue shall ring out Your goodness. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare Your praise. (Refrain) 3

4 Declaration of Forgiveness According to God s steadfast love, according to God s abundant mercy, God does not pass judgment on us the judgment we deserve. God creates in us clean hearts and gives a new and right spirit. In the grace of Jesus Christ, we return to God forgiven. Praise God for our salvation! First Lesson Joel 2:1 18 Second Lesson 2 Corinthians 5:20 6:10 Third Lesson Matthew 6:1 6, *Hymn #442 Just as I Am, without One Plea WOODWORTH Litany of Ashes We bow our heads before you, O God, aware of our sinfulness and our shortcomings. Remembering our baptism, the watermark of the cross upon us, we also receive this ashen cross upon our foreheads another sign that in life and death we belong to you. In the name of Jesus Christ, crucified, risen and coming again, we pray. Amen Imposition of Ashes #544 Bless the Lord Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God s holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. 4

5 #471 O Lord, Hear My Prayer 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. #820 Nothing Can Trouble Nothing can trouble; nothing can frighten. Those who seek God shall never go wanting. God alone fills us. Prayer Hymn #836 Abide With Me EVENTIDE Verses 1, 3, & 5 Prayers of Intercession God in the highest, you came to us in a human being who humbled himself like a slave. We pray for the nations that worship power and might; may they be ruled by humility and peace. We pray for the church and its leaders, that we may have the mind of Christ. We pray for the victims of human tragedies and disasters of nature, We pray for those who are in prison the repentant and the unrepentant and those falsely accused. We pray for those who are ill or infirmed or are rejected because they are seen to be weak. God of compassion, through Jesus Christ you have come to us and shared our common lot. Mold us into people who show your mercy and keep us obedient to him whose name is above all other names Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. 5

6 *Hymn #840 When Peace like a River VILLE DU HAVRE Verses 1 & 4 *Dismissal Postlude Following the postlude, you are invited to remain in the sanctuary for prayer, if you desire. As you leave the sanctuary tonight, please go in silence. Following this Service of Worship you are invited to continue the journey by joining us downstairs in Community Hall for a soup supper. Community Hall is located on the Clayton Street side of the building on the lower level. Many thanks to: Barbara Prugh, Trumpet Camilla Jones & Bob Moore, Communion Table Portions of tonight s liturgy are adapted from Feasting on the Word: Lenten Companion, David Bartlett, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Kimberly Bracken Long, editors. 6

7 WESTMINSTER STAFF PASTORAL STAFF: CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR: CHURCH EDUCATOR: MUSIC LEADERS: PRESCHOOL MINISTRY: YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM: SUPPORT STAFF: Gregory K. Jones, Head of Staff Randall T. Clayton, Interim Associate Pastor Jill Getty, Pastoral Care Assistant Debbie Brown Susan Moseley Paul Fleckenstein, Organist/Director of Music Mary Beth Davis, Director of Music for Children, Youth and Handbells and Living Mosaics Worship Coordinator Sandie Reinicker, Director of Sunshine Choir Section Leaders/Soloists: Diana Milburn, Sharon Babcock, Malcolm Cooper, Jerry Polman Robin Rosser, Director Beatrice Taylor, Childcare Provider Susan Sprague, Childcare Provider Mary Beth Davis, Susan Moseley, Mike Gnade, and Drew McPheeters Susan Alexander, Receptionist Paul Crothamel, Director of Facilities and Security Colleen Falasco, Operations Assistant Nicole Hughes, Director of Communication and Database Management Jerry Hunter, Financial Assistant Suzie Hurlock, Administrative Assistant Sextons: Roger W. Atkins, Terrence Clarke, Robert King, Joan Truitt 7

8 [ÉÄç jxx~ at Westminster March 29 Palm/Passion Sunday Worship 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. Rejoice with a procession of palms to greet Jesus as we begin Holy Week. April 2 Maundy Thursday Worship including the Lord s Supper 7:30 p.m. At this year s Maundy Thursday service, in addition to the celebration of the Lord s Supper, our biblical storytellers, Westminster by Heart, will lead us in scripture passages recounting Jesus death on the cross, as the Westminster Choir offers music by late American composer Dale Wood, A Service of Darkness: Choral Meditations on the Last Words of Christ. Nursery care will be provided from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. April 3 Good Friday 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Reflect on the crucifixion through silent prayer and meditation in the sanctuary or walk the Labyrinth in the Meeting Room (adjacent to Rodney Chapel). April 5 Easter Sunday 8:00 11:00 a.m. Easter breakfast in Community Hall ($5/person, $25 maximum/family) 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. Festive worship services to celebrate Christ s resurrection and the promise of our eternal life, with music by the Westminster Choir, brass, percussion, and organ 10:15 a.m. Easter egg hunt (parents and children meet in Grace Hall) 8