Ash Wednesday 2/17/21

Date
February 17, 2021
Author
Don Bennett
Category
Bulletins

Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ.

Ash Wednesday
February 17, 2021
7:00 p.m.

Holden Evening Prayer
An Evening Setting of Holy Communion

Introduction

On Ash Wednesday we begin our forty-day journey toward Easter with a day of fasting and repentance. Marking our foreheads with dust, we acknowledge that we die and return to the earth. At the same time, the dust traces the life-giving cross indelibly marked on our foreheads at baptism. While we journey through Lent to return to God, we have already been reconciled to God through Christ. We humbly pray for God to make our hearts clean while we rejoice that “now is the day of salvation.” Returning to our baptismal call, we more intentionally bear the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.
Truth on Your Forehead
Today, Ash Wednesday, is about letting the truth come all the way to the surface: there is dirt. Social media won’t show it to you, you likely won’t find it displayed in holiday greetings, and as a result you might be led to believe that you’re the only one who has any dirt mucking up your life. But this is a lie.
There is dirt in our world, soot beneath the surface of every neat and tidy human story, dust collecting in the lives of perfect-seeming families, ash polluting the precious air we breathe. Perhaps you yourself have hidden your dirt in success, work, or volunteering. Perhaps your energy has gone into propping up a meticulous self-image so that others might not know about and might not judge your failings, your sin, your humanity. On Ash Wednesday, we call that way of hiding what it is: a false life lived in the service of self-image. On Ash Wednesday, that way of living is buried so that we can actually live.
Today the truth comes out: there is dirt, and it is everywhere! But what’s more, our God desires our dirt. Our earthy grime does not disqualify us in God’s eyes. In fact, in the eyes of a God who first made us out of dirt, it qualifies us to be recreated!
So today we collectively give up fasting or giving offerings or praying or doing anything else for the sake of covering up the grime. Instead, we wear our dirt on our foreheads, because we trust what our God can do with dust. In doing so, we are unburdened from the work of serving the relentless master that is our self-image and we begin the journey to freedom. We move not by what will make us look a certain way but by the callings of our hearts, imperfect though they may be, because this is where our treasure truly is.

GATHERING

The disciples urged Jesus strongly, saying,
“Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is almost over.”
So he went in to stay with them.

PRELUDE

WELCOME

THE INVITATION TO A LENTEN JOURNEY

I invite you, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and alms-giving; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And to make a right beginning, let us now pray for grace, that we may faithfully keep this Lent.

(A period of silent prayer follows.)

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

EVENING HYMN

Joyous light of heav’ly glory, loving glow of God’s own face,
you who sing creation’s story, shine on ev’ry land and race.
Now as evening falls around us, we shall raise our songs to you,
God of daybreak, God of shadows. come and light our hearts anew.

Int he stars that grace the darkness, in the blazing sun of night,
make us shine with gentle wisdom, we can heat your quiet song.
Love that fills the night with wonder, love that warms the weary soul,
Love that bursts all chains a sunder, set us free and make us whole.

You who made the heaven’s splendor, ev’ry dancing star of night,
make us shine with gentle justice, let us each reflect your light.
Mighty God of all creation, gentle Christ whe lights our way,
Loving ‘spirit of salvation, lead us on to endless day.

THANKSGIVING

May God be with you all,
and also with you;
Let us sing our thanks to God,
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, Creator of the universe
from old you have led your people by night and day.
May the light of your Christ make our darkness bright,
for your word and your presence are the light of our pathways,
and you are the light and life of all creation.
Amen.

PSALM – Psalm 141

Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,
the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

O God, I call to you, come to me now;
O hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,
the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

Keep watch within me God;
deep in my heart may the light of your love be burning bright.
Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,
the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

All praise to the God of all– Creator of life;
all praise be to Christ and the Spirit of love.
Let my prayer rise up like incense before you,
the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

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 receive from you, the God of all mercy, full pardon and forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

WORD

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
Jesus interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

FIRST READING Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Because of the coming Day of the Lord, the prophet Joel calls the people to a community lament. The repentant community reminds God of his gracious character and asks God to spare the people, lest the nations doubt God’s power to save.

A reading from the book of Joel.
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come.
Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
Who knows whether he will not turn and re- lent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD, your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy.
Between the vestibule and the altar — let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O LORD, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ ”
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING 2 Peter 1:2-11

The ministry of the gospel endures many challenges and hardships. Through this ministry, God’s reconciling activity in the death of Christ reaches into the depths of our lives to bring us into a right relationship with God. In this way, God accepts us into the reality of divine salvation

A reading from the book of 2 Peter.
May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.
For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL READING Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commends almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, but emphasizes that spiritual devotion must not be done for show.

The holy gospel according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus said to the disciples:] “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever 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.
“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Hear ends the reading of the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

MESSAGE

ASHES

A LITANY FOR ASH WEDNESDAY: CHILDREN OF DUST

R: As children of Adam and Eve,
A: we are dust and to dust we shall return.
R: But as children of God,
A: we are his and to him we shall return.
R: As human beings made of flesh and bone,
A: we are destined to perish.
R: But as people who believe in the cross, which makes us free,
A: we are destined to live in everlasting bliss.
R: As sinners who have disobeyed God’s will,
A: we deserve to be found guilty of betraying our God.
R: But as forgiven followers who cling to the cross of Christ,
A: we are found innocent because of Christ’s sacrifice for us.
R: As people who have been crushed by the evils of this world, and who fail to look up,
A: we run the risk of being trampled underfoot by the devil, who is roaming the earth.
R: But as people who look up to the cross of Christ and see our Savior hanging there,
A: we trust that we will soon rise from the ashes and walk with our Lord to eternity!
R: Because of the cross, death and its ashes
A: are no more.
R: And because of Christ, all who believe
A: will be saved.

IMPOSITION OF ASHES

The assembly comes forward to receive the mark of ashes.
As the ministers trace the sign of the cross on the forehead of each person, they recite:
Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

As the assembly comes forward, special music is offered.

Ashes by Tom Conry

We rise again from ashes, from the good we’ve failed to do. We rise again from ashes, to create ourselves anew.
If all our world is ashes, then must our lives be true,
An offering of ashes, an offering to you.

We offer you our failures, we offer you attempts,
The gifts not fully given, the dreams not fully dreamt. Give our stumblings direction; give our visions wider view, An offering of ashes, an offering to you.

Then rise agin from ashes, let healing come to pain, Though spring has turned to winter, and sunshine turned to rain. The rain we’ll use for growing, and create the world anew From an offering of ashes, an offering to you.

Thanks be to the Father, who made us like himself. Thanks be to the Son, who saved us by his death. Thanks be to the Spirit, who creates the world anew
From an offering of ashes, an offering to you.

After all have received:

Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation,
that we may show forth your glory in the world.
By the cross and passion of your Son, our Savior,
bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.
Almighty God, have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.
Amen.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Merciful God, accompany our journey through these forty days. Renew us in the gift of baptism, that we may provide for those who are poor, pray for those in need, fast from self-indulgence, and above all that we may find our treasure in the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

ANNUNCIATION (Luke 1:26-28, 30-32, 38)

An angel went from God to a town called Nazareth to a woman whose name was Mary.
The angel said to her, “Rejoice, O highly favored, for God is with you.
You shall bear a child, and his name shall be Jesus, the Chosen One of God Most High.”
And Mary said, “I am the servant of my God, l live to do your will.”

MAGNIFICAT (LUKE 1:46-55)

My soul proclaims your goodness, O God,
and my spirit rejoices in you,
You have looked with love on your servant here,
and blessed my all my life through.

Great and mighty are you, O Holy One,
strong is your kindness evermore.
How you favor the weak and lowly one,
humbling the proud of heart.

You have cast the mighty dowm from their thrones,
and uplifted the humble of heart,
You have filled the hungry with wondrous things,
and left the wealthy no part.

Great and mighty are you, O Faithful One,
strong is your justice strong your love.
As you promised to Sarah and Abraham,
kindness forevermore.

My soul proclaims your goodness, O God,
and my spirit rejoices in you,
You have looked with love on your servant here,
and blessed my all my life through.

Great and mighty are you, O Holy One,
strong is your kindness evermore.
How you favor the weak and lowly one,
humbling the proud of heart.

LITANY AND PRAYERS

In peace, in peace, we pray to you:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For peace and salvation, we pray to you:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For peace between nations, for peace between peoples:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For us who are gathered to worship and praise you:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For all of your servants who live out your gospel:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For all those who govern that justice might guide them:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For all those who labor in service to others:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
Grant weather that nourishes all of creation:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
Keep watch on our loved ones and keep us from danger:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
For all the beloved who rest in your mercy:
God of mercy, hold us in love.
Help us, comfort us, all of our days:
Keep us, hold us, gracious God.

THE CONSECRATION

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
you have brought us this far along the way.
In times of bitterness you did not abandon us,
but guided us into the path of love and light.
In every age you sent prophets
to make known your loving will for all humanity.
The cry of the poor has become your own cry;
our hunger and thirst for justice is your own desire.

In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant
to preach good news to the afflicted,
to break bread with the outcast and despised,
and to ransom those in bondage to prejudice and sin.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection,
we await the day when Jesus shall return
to free all the earth from the bonds of slavery and death.
Come, Lord Jesus! And let the church say, Amen
Amen.

Send your Holy Spirit, our advocate,
to fill the hearts of all who share this bread and cup
with courage and wisdom to pursue love and justice in all the world.
Come, Spirit of freedom! And let the church say, Amen
Amen.

Join our prayers and praise with your prophets and martyrs of every age,
that, rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection,
we might live in the freedom and hope of your Son.
Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into tempta- tion, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

SENDING

When Jesus was at the table with them,
he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

COMMUNION OF GOD’S PEOPLE

We thank you, living God, for the body and blood of your Son, which sustains us in the wilderness and the garden alike. As Christ has loved us in this feast, so send us to love Christ in our neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

Now the Lord bless you and always keep you in God’s grace.
Amen.

BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Amen.

FINAL BLESSING

Let us bless our God:
praise and thanks to you.

May God, creator bless us and keep us,
may Christ be ever light for our lives,
may the Spirit of Love be our guide and path,
for all of our days.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

You are the body of Christ raised up for the world. Go in peace. Share the good news.
Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ. thanks be to God!

Make a commitment to not only worship each week but also try to find a way to serve in the congregation and seek out a way to serve our community.

YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE MISSION FIELD

UPCOMING COMMEMORATIONS

Martin Luther, renewer of the church, died 1546
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Though he began his adult church life as a simple Augustinian monk, Luther challenged the abuses he saw in the church, and his work eventually led to the Protestant Reformation. Luther’s accomplishments included liturgical reform, translation of the Bible, and creation of the Small and Large Catechisms.

Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr, died 156
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Because he is said to have been known by John, the author of Revelation, as well as the important early church fathers Irenaeus and Ignatius, Polycarp serves as a vital link in church history. He was burned at the stake at age 86 for refusing to renounce his faith.

Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, died 1921
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Born in Norway and trained there as a deaconess, Fedde was asked to come and minister to the poor and to seamen in New York City. She established the Deaconess House in Brooklyn as well as Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis.

Thanksgiving at the Table adapted from Katherine Hawker on Liturgy Outside. liturgyoutside.net
Holden Evening Prayer by Marty Haugen, Copyright (C)1990. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-702747.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.