Ash Wednesday: Taize

Ash Wednesday

Taize with Imposition of Ashes

Notes: The Taize refrains are often used in this service as an "ostinato" or repeated chorus under a spoken or sung verse. For this to be effective let the congregation become comfortable with the "ostinato" by singing it several times before starting the verse(s). The music for the Taize songs can be found in GIA's two volumes of Taize music, as well as many hymnals.

Lights should be dim. Lots of candles would also be appropriate.

Order of Worship

Pre-service Music

Optional Choir Anthem

P: Peace be with you.

C: And also with you.

ALL (sing repeatedly): O Lord, Hear My Prayer

Text: Psalm 102:1-2; adapt. Taize Community, 1982

Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994, Copyright Administrator: GIA Publications, Inc.

(Psalm 27 Spoken over the ostinato):

P: The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?

A: One thing I ask of the Lord, only that do I seek:

to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, to frequent His temple.

P: Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy on me, answer me. In Your behalf my heart says:

“Seek My face!” O Lord, I seek Your face. Do not hide Your face from me; do not thrust aside Your servant in anger; You have ever been my help. Do not forsake me, do not abandon me,

O God, my deliverer. Though my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will take me in.

A: Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a level path.

Hebrew Scripture:

Silence

ALL (sing repeatedly): Jesus, Remember Me

Text: Luke 23:42

Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994, Copyright Administrator: GIA Publications, Inc.

(Psalm 51 Spoken over the ostinato):

P: Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

A: For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

P: Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin I was conceived.

A: Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

P: Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

A: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

P: Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

A: Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.

P: Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

A: Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

P: O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Ash Wednesday: Imposition of Ashes

(“Jesus, Remember Me” may be sung during the imposition of ashes)

Confession

[Optional Ostinato to "Jesus, Remember Me" by the Cantor (Taize Volume 1 page 9): God’s peace is ours for we are God’s....God’s love is ours.]

P: In the dark of night God calls to us; beckoning us on, seeking us out, calling us to peace, to quietness, to wholeness.

C: The world is dark around us, filled with coldness, terror and restlessness.

P: It is a darkness of our creation: Greed, hatred, envy: brokenness.

C: Take us and heal us of every evil. Bring us back into the comfort and closeness of your embrace, O God.

P: Your cleansing love, O God, purifies our darkness restoring it to us: Warm, comforting, restfuP: complete.

C: In the dark of our night we hear God call, offering love and strength and forgiveness.

P: With God the darkness brings comfort not fear, love not hatred, righteousness not punishment. Walk in the darkness of your life as in the light, for both the dark and the light belong to God, as do you.

C: Amen.

Prayers

ALL (sing repeatedly): Our Father

(Taize Volume 1 page 23 - ALL, page 24 - Cantor)

Our Father, who art in heaven.

New Testament Lesson:

Holy Gospel Lesson:

Music for Meditation

Message

A: The End is God’s. The Beginning is God’s.

P: The Storm is God’s. The Peace is God’s.

A: The Depths are God’s. The Heights are God’s

P: The Dark is God’s. The Light is God’s.

A: For all times, all things and all ALL belong to God.

P: Travel with God to the end from the beginning.

A: Walk with the Lord of your salvation.

P: Continue with God during the storm as well as the peace.

A: Walk with the God of your deliverance.

P: Journey with God through the depths and the heights.

A: Walk with the Lord of your restoration.

P: Tarry with God in the dark and the light.

A: Walk with the Lord of your assurance;

P: For all times, all things and all ALL belong to God.

C: Amen.

Silence

Offering

Silence

ALL (sing repeatedly): Stay Here

Text: Matthew 26:38, 45; Taize Community

Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994, Copyright Administrator: GIA Publications, Inc.

Taize Volume 2 page 65

(Spoken over the ostinato):

Isaiah 42:1-4

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;....

He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Music for Meditation

You are invited to stay and mediate and pray, or leave quietly.

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