Ash Wednesday: Return to the Light

Ash Wednesday:

Return to the Light

Order of Worship

Pre-service Music

Prelude & Lighting of Individual and Altar Candles

(As the acolyte(s) processes down the aisle the first person in each row lights their candle and in turn lights the candle of the person next to them.)

L: (spoken over music) The Lord our God gave us light, not just the light of the sun for our days, but the light of our soul, Christ Jesus—

C: (spoken over music) The light which shines in our being, beckons us onward, leading us home to God.

Silence

L: (spoken over music) The Lord our God gave us light, not just the light of the sun that grows our food, but the light of our soul, Christ Jesus—

C: (spoken over music) The light which feeds our spirits, strengthens us for work, ripening our relationship with God.

Silence

L: (spoken over music) The Lord our God gave us light, not just the light of the sun that gives us warmth, but the light of our soul, Christ Jesus—

C: (spoken over music) The light which kindles our hearts, nurtures our lives, wrapping us in the love of God.

Silence

P: But we have rejected the warmth. Rejected the light. Rejected the day the Lord has given us.

C: We have turned away from God. We have left our home. We have refused to be fed. We have thrown off the love God gives us and walked into the cold; into the dark.

(Blow out the individual candles)

Silence

Song: "Our Father, We Have Wandered"

(With One Voice 733, Augsberg Fortress Press. Text: Kevin Nichols, b. 1929, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc., Music: Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612; arr. J. S. Bach, 1685-175)

Our Father, we have wandered . . . we hear you call our name.

O Lord of all the living, . . . in pardon, and in peace.

Reading: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Blow a trumpet in Zion, ... ‘Where is their God?'"

P: Let us pray,

C: Almighty and ever-living God, you hate nothing you have made and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and honest hearts, so that, truly repenting of our sins, we may obtain from you, the God of all mercy, full pardon and forgiveness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Imposition of Ashes

(Those who desire to receive ashes come forward)

Lesson Song: "Open our eyes, Lord" (Worship & Praise 113, Augsberg Fortress Press, Text & Music: Bob Cull, b. 1949, The Copyright Company)

(Sung during the Imposition of Ashes. Repeat song as often as desired)

Open our eyes, Lord; . . . we want to see Jesus.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

We beg you on behalf of Christ,... as having nothing yet possessing all things.

Song: "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" (With One Voice 731, Augsberg Fortress Press, Text: Thomas A. Dorsey, 1899-1993, Music: Thomas A. Dorsey, 1899-1993, based on MAITLAND, George N. Allen, Unichappell Music Inc.)

Precious Lord, take my hand . . . precious Lord, lead me home.

Psalm 51:1-18:

P: (spoken over music) Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

C: (spoken over music) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

A: (spoken over music) 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.

When my way grows drear, . . . precious Lord, lead me home.

P: (spoken over music) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.

C: (spoken over music) Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

A: (spoken over music) Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.

P: (spoken over music) Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

C: (spoken over music) 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: (spoken over music) Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

When the darkness appears . . . precious Lord, lead me home.

P: (spoken over music) Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

C: (spoken over music) 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.

A: (spoken over music) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Precious Lord, take my hand . . . precious Lord, lead me home.

Silence

Choir Anthem:

P: The Gospel according to St. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

C: Glory to you, O Lord.

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

P: The word of the Lord.

C: Praise to you, O Christ.

Music for Meditation

Message

Theme Song: "Savior, When in Dust to You" (Lutheran Book of Worship 91, Augsberg Fortess Press, ABERYSTWYTH, Text: Robert Grant, 1779-1838, alt., Music: Joseph Parry, 1841-1903)

Savior, when in dust to you

Low we bow in homage due;

When, repentant, to the skies

Scarce we lift our weeping eyes;

Oh, by all your pains and woe

Suffered once for us below,

Bending from your throne on high,

Hear our penitential cry!

By your helpless infant years,

By your life of want and tears,

By your days of deep distress

In the savage wilderness,

By the dread, mysterious hour

Of the insulting tempter's pow'r,

Turn, oh, turn a fav'ring eye;

Hear our penitential cry!

By your hour of dire despair,

By your agony of prayer,

By the cross, the nail, the thorn,

Piercing spear, and torturing scorn,

By the gloom that veiled the skies

O'er the dreadful sacrifice,

Listen to our humble sigh,

Hear our penitential cry!

By your deep expiring groan,

By the sad sepulchral stone,

By the vault whose dark abode

Held in vain the rising God,

Oh, from earth to heav'n restored,

Mighty, re-ascended Lord,

Bending from your throne on high

Hear our penitential cry!

The Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Greeting of Peace

Offering

Song: "Spirit Song" (Worship & Praise 130, Augsberg Fortress Press, Text & Music: John Wimber, Music Services, Inc.)

Oh, let the Son of God enfold you . . .O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

Prayers

Song: "Spirit Song" (Worship & Praise 130, Augsberg Fortress Press, Text & Music: John Wimber, Music Services, Inc.)

Oh, let the Son of God enfold you . . .O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

The Lord's Prayer:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

P: (spoken over music) The Lord our God gave us light, not just the light of the sun for our days, but the light of our soul, Christ Jesus, the light which will brighten our darkness and illumine our souls, bringing the healing mercy of God back into our lives. Watch for the light— and return to it.

Sending Song: "Come" (Text & Music: W. Michael Aguilar III, Shandy Music Industries, P.O. Box 10402, Portland, Oregon 97296)

Lord of all light, come, come. . . . Come Lord of light!

God of all grace, come, come. . . . Come God of grace.

Lord of all love, come, come. . . . Come Lord of love.

Postlude