CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH A SERVICE FOR ASH WEDNESDAY
THE ORDER OF SERVICE FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD March 6, 2019 7:00 P.M. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The aim of Ash Wednesday worship is threefold: to meditate on our mortality, sinfulness, and need of a savior; to renew our commitment to daily repentance in the Lenten season and in all of life; and to remember with confidence and gratitude that Christ has conquered death and sin. The imposition of ashes on the forehead or hand is part of this worship service. THE ORGAN PRELUDE Supplication from Stabat Mater Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley Anton Dvorak arr. Dale Wood AN INVITATION TO THE OBSERVANCE OF LENT THE EVENING PRAYER THE CHORAL INTROIT The Light of Christ Shine Upon You Mr. Mark Phoebus Edwin M. Willmington (The congregation stands at the beginning of the Hymn.) * THE HYMN 415 Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy Restoration (All be seated.) THE LITANY OF PENITENCE, responsively Leader: Holy and merciful God, we confess to you and to 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. Rev. David Hanna * Congregation standing, as able. 3
Leader: 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 your Holy Spirit. People: Have mercy on us, O God, Leader: We confess to you, O God, all our past unfaithfulness. For the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives, Leader: For our self-indulgent appetites, our apathetic attitudes, and our exploitation of other people. Leader: For our anger, our frustration, our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves, and our oppression of those less fortunate, Leader: For our intemperate love of earthly treasures and comforts, and for our dishonesty in daily life and work, Leader: For our fear of differences, our blind judgement, our neglect of human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty, Leader: For false judgements, uncharitable actions, for prejudice and contempt toward others, Leader: For the poor stewardship of your creation and our lack of concern for future generations, (A Moment for Silent Confession) Leader: Restore us, O God of our salvation, give us eyes that see your image in our neighbors, ears that hear your call to justice, and hearts that break for the lost and the suffering, that we may encounter your steadfast love and become instruments of your peace and your hope. People: Turn to us in your mercy and redeem us. Amen. THE AGNUS DEI Agnus Dei Edna Cogswell THE PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 4
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING (Pew Bible OT, pages 1037) Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Leader: This is the word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. THE ANTHEM O Gracious Light Timothy Sharp (Please stand for the reading of the Gospel.) * THE GOSPEL READING (Pew Bible NT, pages 6) Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Leader: This is the word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. (All be seated.) THE SERMON A Moment of Silence Student Pastor Ben Fitzgerald-Fye (Stand with the Chancel Choir for the singing of the Hymn.) * The HYMN 421 Have Mercy, God, Upon My Life Irish THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES (All be seated.) Rev. Richard Cassel Ashes have a long history in biblical and church traditions. In Scripture ashes or dust symbolize frailty or death (Gen. 18:27), sadness or mourning (Esther 4:3), and repentance (John 3:6). Some traditions also have considered ash a purifying or cleansing agent. All these images are caught up in the church s use of ashes as a symbol appropriate for Lent. Leader: We begin our journey to Easter with the sign of ashes. This ancient sign speaks of the frailty and uncertainty of human life, and marks the penitence of this community. Let us pray: People: 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, and a reminder that only by your gracious gift are we given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. (Worshipers are invited to come forward to receive the imposition of ashes.) THE CONCLUDING PRAYER, responsively Leader: Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation, that we may show forth your glory in this world. 5
People: By the cross and passion of our Savior, bring us with all your saints to the joy of Christ s resurrection. Leader: Let us pray: Loving God, from the earth you raised the dust, breathed life into it, and created us in love, in peace, and in community. Despite our betrayal, our brokenness, and our rebellion, your steadfast love continued, took on flesh, and a Savior walked among us. People: God of compassion, through your Son Jesus Christ you reconciled your people to yourself. Following his example of prayer and fasting, may we obey you with willing hearts and serve one another in holy love. In solidarity with Christ, we pray the prayer he taught us, as together we pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Stand with the Chancel Choir for the singing of the Hymn followed by the Benediction.) * THE HYMN 436 God of Compassion, In Mercy Befriend Us O Quanta Qualia * THE BENEDICTION * THE BENEDICTION RESPONSE The Light of Christ Shine Upon You Edwin M. Willmington * THE ORGAN POSTLUDE OFFERING After worship and as you exit the Sanctuary, you have the opportunity to place your offering in the offering plates positioned at each door. TO REMOVE THE ASH After worship, remove the ash by rubbing or with oil, not with water. Use a few drops of olive oil and wipe with a cloth towel. Water may create a caustic solution and result in skin irritation. 6
PERSPECTIVES ON THE CROSS, 2018 WEDNESDAY EVENINGS IN LENT Evening Worship at 7:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 Perspectives on the Cross: Jackie Wiley and David Smith Organ and Choral Scholar Scylla Humbert WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 Perspectives on the Cross: Kurt Kretchman and Kaitlyn Kinter Organ and Choral Scholar Kayla Deyarmin WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 Perspectives on the Cross: Olivia Maderer and Michael Driscoll Organ and Choral Scholar Michael Bilik WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 Perspectives on the Cross: Jane VanSteenkist and Tom Caves Organ and Choral Scholar Arlene Ivory WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 Perspectives on the Cross: Ben Ford and Dee Garrettson Organ and Choral Scholar Kyle Chastulik 7
HOLY WEEK SERVICES MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 18 7:00 p.m. The Sacrament of the Lord s Supper Rev. David J. Hanna, preaching Rev. Richard L. Cassel, celebrant Organ, Choral Scholars, and Director of Music Joseph Baunoch GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 19 7:00 p.m. At the Foot of the Cross Student Pastor Ben Fitzgerald-Fye, preaching Organ and Chancel Choir EASTER DAY, APRIL 21 11:00 A.M. Festive Worship with Organ, Brass, Timpani, and Chancel Choir Rev. David J. Hanna, preaching 8