Ash Wednesday March 6, 2019 Holy Cross Lutheran Church
As We Gather LENT begins with ASH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, and so does our emphasis on Moses s book called Exodus. In it, Moses asks Pharaoh to let God s people go seven times (Ex 5:1; 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3) and Pharaoh finally does it! When he does, God s salvation is so amazing that the event becomes the Gospel of the Old Testament. Israel s Scriptures mention the exodus 125 times! Throughout the book of Exodus, God reveals who He is through His absence and His presence, through His silence and His speech, through His wrath and His mercy, and through His judgment and His amazing grace. In doing so, the book paints a beautiful portrait of Jesus. Today we will hear about how God does big things with small stuff! He does it for Israel through Moses, and He does it for us through Jesus! Be sure to check out our devotional for Lent, available in our Welcome Center, as well as our Lent Podcast for a Bible Study on the go! 2 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
ASH WEDNESDAY March 6, 2019 THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES BEFORE WORSHIP Those who desire to receive ashes come forward to the altar. As the pastor applies ashes, the following is said: Pastor: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Response: Amen. After receiving ashes, each person returns to his place in silence. Kneeling at the altar for private prayer is an option. The Divine Service ASH WEDNESDAY ADDRESS PLEASE STAND Pastor: Dear brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ, on this day the Church begins a holy season of prayerful and penitential reflection. Our attention is especially directed to the holy sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. From ancient times, the season of Lent has been kept as a time of special devotion, self-denial, and humble repentance born of a faithful heart that dwells confidently on God s Word and draws from it life and hope. Let us pray that our dear Father in heaven, for the sake of His beloved Son and in the power of His Holy Spirit, might richly bless this Lententide for us so that we may come to Easter with glad hearts and keep the feast in sincerity and truth. Silence for reflection and self-examination Holy Cross Lutheran Church 3
THE LITANY Pastor: O Lord, People: have mercy. Pastor: O Christ, People: have mercy. Pastor: O Lord, People: have mercy. Pastor: O Christ, People: hear us. Pastor: God the Father in heaven, People: have mercy. Pastor: God the Son, Redeemer of the world, People: have mercy. Pastor: God the Holy Spirit, People: have mercy. Pastor: Be gracious to us. People: Spare us, good Lord. Pastor: Be gracious to us. People: Help us, good Lord. Pastor: By the mystery of Your holy incarnation; by Your holy nativity; By Your baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and bloody sweat; by Your cross and passion; by Your precious death and burial; By Your glorious resurrection and ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter: People: Help us, good Lord. Pastor: In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death; and in the day of judgment; People: Help us, good Lord. Pastor: We poor sinners implore You People: to hear us, O Lord. Pastor: To prosper the teaching of Your Word; to bless our prayer and meditation; to strengthen and preserve us in the true faith; and to give heart to our sorrow and strength to our repentance: People: We implore You to hear us, good Lord. Pastor: To draw all to Yourself; to bless those who are instructed in the faith; to watch over and console the poor, the sick, the distressed, the lonely, 4 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
the forsaken, the abandoned, and all who stand in need of our prayers; to give abundant blessing to all works of mercy; and to have mercy on us all: People: We implore You to hear us, good Lord. Pastor: To turn our hearts to You; to turn the hearts of our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers; and graciously to hear our prayers: People: We implore You to hear us, good Lord. Pastor: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, People: we implore You to hear us. Pastor: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, People: have mercy. Pastor: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, People: have mercy. Pastor: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, People: grant us Your peace. Pastor: O Christ, People: hear us. Pastor: O Lord, People: have mercy. Pastor: O Christ, People: have mercy. Pastor: O Lord, People: have mercy. Amen. Pastor: O God, You desire not the death of sinners, but rather that they turn from their wickedness and live. We implore You to have compassion on the frailty of our mortal nature, for we acknowledge that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Mercifully pardon our sins that we may obtain the promises You have laid up for those who are repentant; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. People: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Silence for reflection on God s word and for self-examination Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. Holy Cross Lutheran Church 5
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You 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; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. SERVICE OF THE WORD PSALM PSALM 51:1-3, 10-12 Pastor: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; People: according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Pastor: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, People: and cleanse me from my sin! Pastor: For I know my transgressions, People: and my sin is ever before me. Pastor: Create in me a clean heart, O God, People: and renew a right spirit within me. Pastor: Cast me not away from Your presence, People: and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Pastor: Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, People: and uphold me with a willing spirit. All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Pastor: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; People: according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 6 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
KYRIE LSB 152 Holy Cross Lutheran Church 7
SALUTATION AND COLLECT OF THE DAY Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen. OLD TESTAMENT READING: Exodus 2:1-11 Lector: The Old Testament Reading for Ash Wednesday is from Exodus, chapter two. ow a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite N woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, This is one of the Hebrews children. 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh s daughter, Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you? 8 And Pharaoh s daughter said to her, Go. So the girl went and called the child s mother. 9 And Pharaoh s daughter said to PLEASE BE SEATED 8 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, This is one of the Hebrews children. 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh s daughter, Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you? 8 And Pharaoh s daughter said to her, Go. So the girl went and called the child s mother. 9 And Pharaoh s daughter said to her, Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages. So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, Because, she said, I drew him out of the water. 11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. Lector: O Lord, have mercy on us. People: Thanks be to God. EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Lector: The Epistle is from Second Corinthians, chapters five and six. W e implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. Lector: O Lord, have mercy on us. People: Thanks be to God. Holy Cross Lutheran Church 9
VERSE FOR LENT PLEASE STAND People: Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and abounding in steadfast love. HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the sixth chapter. People: Glory to You, O Lord. 1 [Jesus said:] Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when 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. 16 [Jesus said:] And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, O Christ. 10 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
HYMN OF THE DAY: What Wondrous Love is This LSB 543 Public domain SERMON: Big Things with Small Stuff Exodus 2:1-10 Holy Cross Lutheran Church 11
NICENE CREED I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. SAID BY ALL: PLEASE STAND And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. 12 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Pastor: O Holy Redeemer, to You we lift our prayers and raise our supplications; People: Lord, hear our prayer. Pastor: Deliver us from pride and from arrogance, lest we fail to acknowledge our sins and confess them; People: Lord, hear our prayer. Pastor: Deliver the world from the enemies of peace and from injustice and give us good and faithful leaders to protect the weak and promote virtue. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Pastor: Deliver Your church from her enemies and bless the pastors and church workers who serve us in Your name with Your Word. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Pastor: Deliver the sick from their afflictions the suffering from their pain, and the grieving from their sorrow... (read individual names); People: Lord, hear our prayer. Pastor: Deliver the erring from their errors, the doubting from their uncertainties, and the wandering from their ways, and return them to Your Church. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Pastor: Deliver us from the terror of death and the victory of the grave. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Pastor: Deliver us from selfish desire, from the tyranny of things, and from the wasteful use of all the resources You have entrusted to our care. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Pastor: Deliver us from ingratitude for all Your mercies new every morning and restore our hearts to hope and joy in Christ our Savior. People: Lord, hear our prayer. Amen. Holy Cross Lutheran Church 13
HYMN: Luther s Evening Prayer 7 PM Commissioned by Zion Lutheran Church and School of Harvester, Missouri, in celebration of Reformation 500 and in thanksgiving to our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, His dear Son 14 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
OFFERING As we gather our offerings, we invite members and guests alike to take a moment to sign the red fellowship pad located at the end of the pew by the center aisle. Please provide contact information if you are interested in membership or if you would like to be contacted by the church. PLEASE SIT OFFERTORY: What Shall I Render to the Lord LSB 159 PLEASE STAND Holy Cross Lutheran Church 15
Service of the Sacrament PREFACE Pastor: The Lord be with you. 2 Timothy 4:22 People: And also with you. Pastor: Lift up your hearts. [Colossians 3:1] People: We lift them to the Lord. Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. [Psalm 136] People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise. Pastor: It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who overcame the assaults of the devil and gave His life as a ransom for many that with cleansed hearts we might be prepared joyfully to celebrate the paschal feast in sincerity and truth. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying: SANCTUS HYMN: Holy, Holy, Holy LSB 161 16 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Pastor: Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross. People: Amen. Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. LORD S PRAYER (Matthew 6:9-13), arr. Michelle Sliger SUNG BY ALL Holy Cross Lutheran Church 17
WORDS OF OUR LORD Matthew 26:26 28; Mark 14:22 24; Luke 22:19 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23 25 Pastor: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. PAX DOMINI In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always. People: Amen. 18 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
AGNUS DEI: Lamb of God LSB 163 DISTRIBUTION Holy Communion at Holy Cross is celebrated in accordance with the Lutheran confession that Christ s body and blood are truly given to us with the bread and wine to give forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation to repentant, reconciled believers in Christ. Missouri-Synod Lutherans united with us in that confession are invited to receive the Sacrament with us. Others who desire to commune should first speak with a Pastor or an Elder. Both common and individual cup are offered. For those whose health or circumstance may require it, Holy Cross offers an alcohol-removed red wine (containing less than 0.5% alcohol) located in the center of each Communion tray. Please take the cup you prefer. DISTRIBUTION HYMNS My God, Thy Table Now is Spread Choir at 7 PM Savior, When in Dust to Thee LSB 419 In Adam We Have All Been One LSB 569 I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table LSB 618 Holy Cross Lutheran Church 19
DISMISSAL Pastor: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart in peace. People: Amen. POST-COMMUNION THANKSGIVING Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, we give You thanks that You have once again prepared for us a place at Your table, feeding us with Your body and blood, for the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our faith, and the awakening of our hope in Your future feast that shall have no end. Be with us now as we enter the season of Lent, inspiring among us true devotion to You and faithful service to one another, as we prepare to celebrate the paschal feast. Through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen. BENEDICTION Pastor: The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The LORD look upon you with His favor and give you His peace. People: Amen. PLEASE STAND 20 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
CLOSING HYMN: O Lord, Throughout These Forty Days LSB 418 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License.NET, no. 100010116. Public domain CHIMES & SILENT PRAYER POSTLUDE Holy Cross Lutheran Church 21
P. 12: Apostles Creed/Creative Faith: pinterest.com P. 13: www.bethellutheranchurch.com/prayer_requests P. 15: https://olphyouserve.wordpress.com/author/nicki1128/page/2/ 22 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
Serving in God s House Today Ash Wednesday Preacher Director of Music & Organist Choir Director Accompanist Pastor Andrew J. Gimbel Michelle Sliger Greg Cissell Sara Shroth Elder 11:00 a.m. Don Wischmeyer, Joe Snyder 7:00 p.m. Kevin Smith, Brian Storm Ushers 11:00 a.m. John & Linda Jackson 7:00 p.m. Mark Ziolko, Bill Adams Acolyte 7:00 p.m. Bethany Claxton Altar Guild 11:00 a.m. Barb Grosch, Joyce Lang, Jan Flentke 7:00 p.m. Elaine Howard, Judie Woelfer, Susan Bollinger, Darlene Robirds, Kari Spearman Midweek Lenten Services Wednesdays March 8, 15, 22, 29 April 5 Lenten Worship at 11 AM & 7 PM Lenten Dinner at 5:45 PM Join Us for Dinner & Holy Cross Fellowship! Each Wednesday during Lent, you are invited to join us for dinner before the 7 PM worship service! A free will donation will be collected to cover costs, and proceeds will be donated to a worthy cause. Wed., March 8 5:45 6:45 p.m. In the Gym Menu: Baked Pasta, Bread, Salad, & Desserts sponsored by grace guild Holy Cross Lutheran Church 23
Holy Cross Lutheran Church & Preschool 8945 Veterans Memorial Parkway O Fallon, MO 63366 (636) 272-4505 www.hcross.com Rev. Andrew J. Gimbel Pastor Meghan Flanick Director of Christian Education Darlene Birk Preschool Director Michelle Sliger Director of Music Greg Cissell Choir Director With the help of God, Holy Cross Lutheran Church grows disciples and transforms hearts for Christ. 24 Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019