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An Introduction for Ash Wednesday

"I acknowledge my transgressions." Psalm 51:3.

      To sin is mortal. Only God is perfect.

      Our greatest weakness is our failure to recognize our spiritual limitations and the inevitableness of sin. Our most common sin is the smug self-satisfaction that we are not as other people. The self-righteous are farther from the Kingdom of God than the penitent sinner. He who prays loud and long might not be heard while the sobbing, whispered prayer may open the Fount of Grace. Honest, searching, examination of our faith, of our religious practices, of our sincerity, and of our soul satisfying experiences is necessary at times to discover and to acknowledge our sins of omission and our sins of commission.

      Most often it is the habitual sin from failure to lead a full, vibrant, productive religious life which we do not discover and which if we did discover we would not acknowledge before God. Pride, if not the original sin, is the most common barrier between God and man--even at times to those who profess the greatest humility. Be humble--but do not take pride in humility.

Prayer

God of Grace and God of Mercy, we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Help us to examine our lives to learn how we sin that we may seek your forgiveness. Amen.

Greeting

Rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,

For God is gracious and merciful
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and he relents form punishing.

Come let us draw near to God!

 

Closing prayer

May the almighty and merciful God,
who desires not the death of a sinner,
but that we turn from wickedness and live,
accept your repentance, forgive your sins,
and restore you by the Holy Spirit
to newness of life.  Amen.

Complete Ash Wednesday Service
(with a service for the imposition of ashes)

Opening Reading:"I acknowledge my transgressions."

To sin is mortal. Only God is perfect. Our greatest weakness is our failure to recognize our spiritual limitations and the inevitableness of sin. Our most common sin is the smug self-satisfaction that we are not as other people. The self-righteous are farther from the Kingdom of God than the penitent sinner. He who prays loud and long might not be heard while the sobbing, whispered prayer may open the Fount of Grace. Honest, searching, examination of our faith, of our religious practices, of our sincerity, and of our soul satisfying experiences is necessary at times to discover and to acknowledge our sins of omission and our sins of commission. Most often it is the habitual sin from failure to lead a full, vibrant, productive religious life which we do not discover and which if we did discover we would not acknowledge before God.

Call to Worship (responsively)

L: Rend your hearts and not your clothing.
P: Return to the Lord, your God.
L: For God is gracious and merciful, God is slow to anger.
P: God is abounding in steadfast love, and he relents from punishing.
L: Come let us draw near to God!

Opening Hymn: "Have Thine own Way"

Words of Exhortation

We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For your sake God made to be sin. The One who knew no sin, so that in this very one we might become the righteousness of God. For God says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you and helped you on the day of salvation." Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation.

Hebrew Scripture Lesson: Joel 2:1-2,12-17a

Psalm of Confession: Psalm 51

Reader 1:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; you who have great mercy, forgive what I have done.
Reader 2:
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
Reader 1:
For I know what I have done wrong; my sins are ever before me and heavy on my heart.
Reader 2:
Against you, God, you only, have I sinned; you who know all things know what I have done. You have every right to judge me for my actions and every right to punish me for them.
People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Reader 1:
In the time since I was born, I have committed many sins, and done many things which I wish I had not done.
Reader 2:
God, you want me to be truthful to my very core; therefore, teach me wisdom in the depths of my heart.
Reader 1:
If you will do it, O God, I shall be clean, wash me, and I shall be pure.
Reader 2:
Fill me with joy and gladness!
People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Reader 1:
Then I will lead others to return to you, O God, and learn your ways.
Reader 2:
Deliver me from my guilt, O God of my salvation, and I will sing aloud of your deliverance. I will sing your praises.
Reader 1:
You take no delight in sacrifices; you would not be pleased if I were to offer one to you.
Reader 2:
The sacrifice acceptable to you is a broken spirit; a contrite heart, O God, you will not reject.
People:
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Time for Silent Prayer
Assurance of Pardon

Hymn: "I Surrender All"

Epistle Lesson: 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Gloria Padre

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

Homily or Devotion

Pastoral Prayer

Prayers of the People

Blessing of the Ashes

May these ashes be to us, O God, an acknowledgment of our wrongdoing and our acceptance of your forgiveness. In these ashes are our prejudices, our impatience, the times we have turned our backs on the suffering of others, our neglect of the environment, our indifference, our materialism, our greed, our hypocrisy, our envy, all of our sins. In these ashes of repentance are the seeds of our forgiveness and our transformation. For God always accepts us and forgives us. Through our repentance and forgiveness comes transformation. May God create within each of us a clean heart and a new and right spirit.

Imposition of Ashes

"Create in [name] a clean heart and put a new and right spirit within her/him."

Closing Hymn: "Just As I Am Without One Plea"