Ash Wednesday 2024

Good evening and welcome

Lent is the 40-day period (excluding Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter.

Lent began as a time of preparation for those planning to be baptized and celebrate new life on Easter, but it has since become a widespread season of preparation for all Christians leading up to Resurrection Sunday.

Ash Wednesday is about three primary things…reflection, repentance, and renewal …

Joel

The New International Version Chapter 2

12 “Even now,” declares the LORD,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

13 Rend your heart

and not your garments.

Return to the LORD your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.

14 Who knows? He may turn and relent

and leave behind a blessing—

Psalm

New Living Translation Psalm 90

12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life,

so that we may grow in wisdom.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always:

“Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.  Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Pray

We live in a culture that is obsessed with self, with youth, and indulgence.

Matthew

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted v by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Psalm

New Living Translation Psalm 51

15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,

that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

You do not want a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

There are many Christian traditions that encourage taking something out of your normal routine to focus on Jesus (e.g. - fasting). Others have often encouraged adding something in (e.g. - Bible reading, fixed-hour prayer, journaling).

matthew

The New International Version Chapter 16

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Imposition of the Ashes

We begin our journey to Easter with the sign of ashes. This ancient sign speaks of the frailty and uncertainty of human life, calls us to heartfelt repentance, and urges us to place our hope in God alone.

Prayer:              Almighty God,                         you have created us out of the dust of the earth.                         May these ashes remind us                         of our mortality and need for repentance                         and teach us again that only by your gracious gift                         are we given everlasting life;                         through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Invitation:     I invite you, therefore, in the name of Christ,                         to observe a holy Lent                         by self-examination and repentance,                         by prayer and fasting,                         by works of love,                         and by reading and meditating on the Word of God.

  You are welcome to come forward to receive the ashes on your forehead (or your hand).

Remember that you come from dust and you shall return to dust. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Jesus.

Have mercy on me O God in your great kindness: in the fullness of your mercy blot out my offences. Wash away all my guilt: and cleanse me from my sin.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is always before me. Against you only have I sinned and done evil in your sight.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Create in me a clean heart O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence: do not take your holy spirit from me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Give me the joy of your help again: and strengthen me with a willing spirit. O Lord open my lips: and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.