a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
God of every journey,
walk with us during these Lenten days.
Open us to your presence
in penitence, in scripture, and in all your world
so that we might be strengthened to follow you each and every day,
with Jesus Christ as our guide. Amen.
Prayer of the Day
How you love us, God of rainbow promises!
Like a mother who teaches her son
the steps for his first dance,
like the father who goes out
with his daughter after work
so she can learn how to drive,
you love us that much and more.
How you offer yourself to us, Brother of the beloved!
You gather us up in your arms,
simply to hear our deepest hopes;
you reach out your scarred hands
to gently wipe our fears away;
you stain a cross with your blood,
so we might washed clean in the tears
pouring down God’s face.
How you share yourself with us, journey’s Spirit!
You bathe our wearied souls
in the cooling waters of baptism;
you wipe the dust of the wilderness
out of our eyes so we can see the kingdom;
you teach us those ancient ways
which offer new life for each of us.
God in Community, Holy in One,
be with us in this Lenten season,
even as we pray, saying,
Our Father . . .
Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.
At the very beginning,
God scooped up the dust of the earth and molded it into human beings,
breathing divine breath into those creatures of dust.
Over time though, we dust creatures have forgotten who we are and whose we are.
We believed a serpent in the Garden of Eden who said we could become like God.
We believed that the gold calf Aaron made could guide us in the wilderness.
We believed the builders of Babel who thought by our own hands we could be greater than God.
We have covered up with leaves and clothes.
We have stopped taking time to walk with God in the gardens of the world God created.
But God does not stop finding ways to meet us.
God spoke through a burning bush, a whisper, a cloud pillar, the laws given to Moses,
and then ultimately through Jesus Christ.
By living a perfect sinless life,
Jesus exposed our lies of self-sufficiency.
Our sinful pride is brought into the light.
Our dusty nature is right there on the surface.
Come forward to reclaim the dust with which you were formed.
Come forward to recognize your need for the God who created you
and for the savior who desires to wash you clean.
Submitted by Kathleen Sheets, Pastoral Intern, First Presbyterian Church, Maumee, OH
(written for an Ash Wednesday service in a park)
One: What seems like an ending
All: is really a beginning.
One: Secure in our ending
All: we begin.
One: Knowing that we come from dust, we will return to dust and we are forever in the care of Jesus
All: we begin.
One: With hearts that are fickle, with eyes that are woozy
All: we begin.
Submitted by Jodi Houdge, Humble Walk Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN
This is the service we are using after a Pancake Supper. We are actually using a local cafe (owned and operated by church members) as our dinner space AND our worship space. After the pancake Supper (a mash-up of Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday in one evening) the gathering music will begin. What follows is what is printed in our bulletin.
GATHERING SONG (Wait for the Lord)
SCRIPTURE READING (Matthew 11:28-30)
A MOMENT OF SILENCE
ASH WEDNESDAY LITANY AND PRAYER
One: God of our completeness…
we give thanks for the gift of life.
All: We see the world around us…all you have created…
and, at times, we are in awe of its beauty.
One: God of our wholeness…
we give thanks for the gift of love.
All: We reflect on the life of Jesus…who promises rest…
and, at times, we are ready to follow.
One: God of our entire being…
we give thanks for the gift of sustaining nourishment.
All: We catch glimpses of your Spirit moving among us…
and, at times, we are ready to receive.
One: God…your love is unconditional…
All: Forgive our conditions.
One (sung): Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
All (sung): Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
One: You created us in your image,
and you long for us to share our life together…
All: But I’m more interested in my own life.
One: You long for us to have compassion for one another…
All: But I’m more interested in my own needs.
One: You long for us to peacefully listen to one another…
All: But I’m more interested in my own opinions.
One: God…your love is unconditional…
All: Forgive our conditions.
One (sung): Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
All (sung): Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
One: You draw us together,
and call us to be your church…
All: to be your light, shining in the shadows…
to be your salt, seasoning a sapless society.
One: You envision the community we call “church”
to be a reflection of life as you intend for all creation.
All: But we’re more interested in deciding
who’s in and who’s out…
who’s right and who’s wrong…
who’s a Christian and who’s not…
who belongs at our table, and who doesn’t.
One: God…your love is unconditional…
All: Forgive our conditions.
One (sung): Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
All (sung): Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
One: You see in us a potential that is beyond our imaginations.
All: We see the comfort of the status quo.
One: During this season, you call us to a place of renewal.
All: We know that “renewal” is code for “change”.
One: We don’t like change…
All: most of the time.
One: But deep down, we long for your renewal…
All: we need your renewal…
One: we welcome your renewal…
All: so forgive us…transform us…renew us…
One (sung): Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
All (sung): Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison.
THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES
At this time, you are invited to stand up and walk to one of two people near the middle of the Cafe holding a bowl of ashes, some of which they will place on your forehead or on the back of your hand (if you prefer) in the shape of a cross as a reminder that we were created from dust, and it is to dust that we shall return. Our theme for Lent this year is renewal. You are encouraged to reflect on what experiencing renewal might mean for you.
As the elder places the ashes on your forehead or hand, he/she will say to you:
You are created from dust,
and it is to dust that you shall return
resting peacefully in the grace of God.
SCRIPTURE READING (Psalm 51:1-15)
This Psalm will be read slowly during the imposition of ashes as we remember who we are and whose we are…as we remember that we are created from dust, and it is to dust that we shall return, resting peacefully in the grace of God.
A MOMENT OF SILENCE
BENEDICTION
A member of the church who is an artist is bringing 2 of her paintings…one with a dark theme and one with a light, celebratory theme. The dark painting will be displayed on the table at the beginning of the service. When the 15th verse of the Psalm is read…the dark painting will be replaced by the celebratory painting.
“Wait for the Lord” is a song from “Songs and Prayers for Taize”
Our sung Kyrie response is from “Taize: Songs for Prayer”
Submitted by Scott Cervas, pastor at Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY) using a mash-up of thoughts from a LiturgyLink Ash Wednesday brainstorming session.
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