Seminary Ash Wednesday Service 3/2/22

Joel 2:1-2, 12-13

Welcome: Glad to see every one here this evening. Thankfully we are in better shape this year as far as covid,,, and,,, the weather,,, since last year it was so cold. You should have gotten a handout as you arrived,,, so you can read along and respond at the appropriate places if you like. As I usually do,,, I thought that I would give a quick reminder about the mark of the cross that you are about to receive.

This mark is given as a reminder of our mortality and because of sin,,, dust is what our bodies return to,,, and also,,, we need forgiveness and we need to confess our sins. There is no set length of time for leaving the ashes on the forehead,,, it can be wiped off immediately,,, left until you get home or left on all day tomorrow. There is no right or wrong way,,, although,,, some leave it on until the next day for witnessing opportunities.

Also,,, you can receive the mark of the cross on the forehead or the back of the hand,,, again,,, it's entirely up to you. So,,, lets take our handout as I begin to read,,, and you can read along and respond appropriately when it's time… GREETING The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins. God's mercy endures for ever. Prayer (Let us pray) O God, maker of everything and judge of all that you have made, from the dust of the earth you have formed us and from the dust of death you would raise us up. By the redemptive power of the cross, create in us clean hearts and put within us a new spirit, that we may repent of our sins and lead lives worthy of your calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Hymn: Here I Am to Worship Scripture: Joel 2:1-2, 12-13 1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: For the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, A day of clouds and of thick darkness, As the morning spread upon the mountains: A great people and a strong; There hath not been ever the like, Neither shall be any more after it, Even to the years of many generations. Joel 2:12–13 (KJV 1900) — 12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn unto the LORD your God: For he is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness, And repenteth him of the evil. God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this evening. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this evening,,, with all that are here,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. --------------- In these first verses of Joel,,, verses 1-11 even though I only read the first two,,, Joel spoke of the Lord as a mighty Warrior-King leading His powerful army into battle. And when this happens,,, it will not be very good for many in this world today. Jesus came the first time as a little baby,,, but it will be different when He returns! When He returns,,, Jesus will return to set up His kingdom,,,as the mighty Warrior-King that Joel spoke about,,, and nothing will get in His way,,, or stop Him at that time. But,,, then beginning in verse 12,,, Joel also gave them "hope" because of the words in these verses. In these verses he begins to tell them ways that they can humble themselves and repent,,, turn again to God,,, a God who is gracious and merciful,,, as it says in verse 13. 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn unto the LORD your God: For he is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness, And repenteth him of the evil. We need to remember that Jesus is coming back again,,, and when He does,,, it will be to judge the world,,,and set up His kingdom,,, and if you haven't repented of your sins and accepted Christ by that day,,, it will be too late. That's why these words were written by Joel,,, trying to get the people of that "day and time",,, to repent and turn back to God. It's the same message for us today as well,,, we must use this time to repent and turn our sinful hearts to God because that's our only hope! That's the main purpose behind the Ash Wednesday Service,,, to bring attention to our need to repent,,, and turn back to God,,, so that we can prepare our hearts for Jesus' resurrection that we will celebrate in just a few short weeks. We do this,,, because,,, we know,,, that God is,,, our only,,, "Hope"! --------------- Hymn: Change My Heart Oh God Pastor's Invitation: Today,,, when it comes to Ash Wednesday,,, want to remind you about the way that the early Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection,,, and it became the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration there should be a forty–day season of spiritual preparation. During this season,,, converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when persons who had committed serious sins and had separated themselves from the community of faith were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness,,, and restored to participation in the life of the Church. In this way the whole congregation was reminded of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need we all have,,, to renew our faith. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church,,, to observe a holy Lent: by self–examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self–denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. To make a right beginning of repentance,,, and as a mark of our mortal nature,,, let us now bow our heads in silent prayer before our Creator and Redeemer as we come before God in prayer,,, each silently asking forgiveness as we make our start of the season of Holy Lent. After a few moments of silent prayer,,, I'll say the prayer of thanksgiving over the ashes to close our prayer. Let us pray a few moments silently: A brief silence is kept, the congregation bowed in prayer. Thanksgiving over the ashes: Prayer: Minister: Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- Minister: People of God, come now in the spirit of penitence, and receive on your head in ashes the sign of the cross, the symbol of our mortality, a symbol of the cost of sin, and yet the sign of our salvation and promise of eternal life. Once you receive the sign of the cross,,, you may return to your seats for our closing hymn,,, and,,, our responsive prayer reading. Imposition of Ashes: Minister: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Hymn: I Surrender All - Page - 354 Closing: Pray Together: All: Grant O Lord, That what has been said with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and that what we believe in our hearts we may practice in our lives Pastor: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit; Go forth in peace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all, Amen. People: Thanks be to God! Amen,,, and you're dismissed!