Ash Wednesday

Order of Service

Gathering Song

Prayer

Homily

Meditative Song

Imposition of Ashes

Communion

Departing Song

Communion

Scripture Reference

Homily Notes

Context of Ash Wed

Ash Wed has its routs in ancient Hebrew acts of repentance

The first sermon of the Christian church was preached in by Peter at Pentecost using text from Joel

The people of God sat in dust and ash to show humility, to show a visiable sign of repentance

Joel is speaking to people who are home after their exile, but are continuing to live their lives apart from God.

This has been a part of the Church for as long back as ancient Israel.

In the 1st chapter and the sections right before our passage, Joel is describing a plague of locusts that had ravaged the country. The Lord gave Joel revelation as to the end of times through the plague of locusts.

This is not a Roman Catholic thing, though it is associated with the Catholic church

What is Ash Wed

Its a repentance thing

There is also a connection to our mortality

We were made from dust and shall return to dust.

This helps us to have a mind of humility and points us to the things of the Lord, which are eternal, and not to the things of this Earth.

Quick note on Rituals and Religion

This act of placing ashes on your head is not salvific, it only has as much relevance as you put on it

Rituals and Religion are not bad, if they usher you into a deeper understanding and love for Jesus Christ.

If you expect a ritual or a religion to save you (Religion meaning a list of rules to follow) then you are missing the point.

Everything that we do is to point us to Jesus and not to just experience a “thing”

Get to the Scriptures!

Joel is calling the people of God to return to the Lord. Says it plainly in vs 12

He’s calling the people to turn from their ways and return to the Lord, not with signs of sacrifice but with a true and repentant heart

The term to rend means to tear violently or to tear to pieces or to greatly distress

Back when people would literally sit in dust and ashes they would also tear their clothes. They would go around with torn clothes to show everyone that they were in mourning, or distress, or repentance.

Joel is telling the people that the outward signs of repentance are fine, but the Lord is calling people to let thier hearts break for the sin in thier lives.

We are supposed to bring our broken heart for the things of the Lord and give those to the Lord

All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God

Whatever you are going through, God is not mad at you.

He’s not waiting for you to show him some sign of sacrifice. He doesn’t want you to go through any acts of pennace. Of hurting yourself and punishing yourself.

He is simply calling you to turn from whatever sin you are harboring in your life and be broken over it

Bring that broken heart to him for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love

God is calling you now not to turn a blind eye to whatever sin is in your life

He is calling you to acknowledge it, be broken for it, and turn from it back to him.

Imposition of Ashes

Mix ash with olive oil to a consistency that is thinner than a paste but not quite runny (if that makes sense)

Basically… you don’t want to put a glob of paste on people but you don’t want it dripping into their eyes.

Ask people to come forward to receive the ashes

When they come forward, make the sign of the cross on their heads

Usually people say “Repent, and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ”

or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”

Communion

Be specific and verbally tell people exactly how they are expected to take/recieve communion

Let them know “i’m going to pray and then you may get up and take/receive the elements at the back of the sanctuary whenever you are ready.”

This

You can follow the Manual or tell the story of the last supper

If you follow the manual: just say the “take and eat...” portions all together and let people get up and get their communion when they are ready.

Pray over the elements

Ask God to bless them and to make them Spiritual food and drink for us. Let us be what we consume. The body of Christ redeemed by His blood for the salvation of the world.