Out Of The Ashes
Worship
Services For Special Days
Hymn Services And Readings For Special Times Of The Year
A Service Of Ashes And Holy Communion For Ash Wednesday
This service of ashes and Holy Communion is written especially for Ash Wednesday. It is a combination of hymns, scriptures, and readings.
Scriptures that are printed are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, except where stated otherwise. Responsive readings are paraphrased.
Participants for this service:
Pastor
Liturgist
Reader 1
Reader 2
Joel
Forester
Artist
Participants can either use costumes, or simply read the script.
Bulletin
Out Of The Ashes
A Service Of Ashes And Holy Communion For Ash Wednesday
Prelude
Lighting Of Candles
Call To Worship (Responsively)
Psalm 103:1-4
Leader:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
People:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.
Leader:
Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases;
People:
Who redeems your life from the Pit, and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
Prayer (In Unison)
Most Holy God, your Son came to save sinners. We come in repentance, confessing our unworthiness, asking for new hearts and your forgiveness. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
"Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days"
Welcome, Greeting, And Announcements
Echoes Of Joel
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Mark 11:9-10; 14:27, 32, 72; 15:22, 33, 39; Galatians 1:6-7a (portions paraphrased)
Call To Stewardship (Pastor)
Offertory
Giving Of Our Tithes And Offerings
Doxology (In Unison)
Prayer Of Dedication (Liturgist)
Anthem
"Ashes"
(Or Hymn)
"Abide With Me"
Message
Out Of Ashes
Service Of Penitence And Holy Communion
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (v. 1)
Explanation Of Ashes (Liturgist)
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Pastor)
Prayer Of Confession (Responsively)
Selections from Psalm 51
Leader:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
People:
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Leader:
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
People:
Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.
Leader:
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
People:
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Leader:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
People:
And put a new and right spirit within me.
Leader:
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
People:
Restore me to the joy of your salvation, and sustain me in a willing spirit.
Leader:
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
People:
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Passing Of The Peace
Hymn
"Search Me, O Lord"
Call To Communion (Pastor)
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (v. 2)
Acts Of Consecration (Pastor)
Words Of Sharing (Pastor)
Participation In Ashes And Elements (Pastor)
Prayer (Pastor)
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (vv. 3 and 4)
Benediction (Pastor)
Postlude
Service
Out Of The Ashes
A Service Of Ashes And Holy Communion For Ash Wednesday
Prelude
Lighting Of Candles
Call To Worship (Responsively)
Psalm 103:1-4
Leader:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
People:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.
Leader:
Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases;
People:
Who redeems your life from the Pit, and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
Prayer (In Unison)
Most Holy God, your Son came to save sinners. We come in repentance, confessing our unworthiness, asking for new hearts and your forgiveness. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
"Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days"
Welcome, Greeting, And Announcements
Echoes Of Joel
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Mark 11:9-10; 14:27, 32, 72; 15:22, 33, 39; Galatians 1:6-7a (portions paraphrased)
Reader 1: Blow the trumpet in Zion.
Reader 2: And those who went before and those who followed cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Reader 1: Sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Reader 2: It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth, and kill him ...
Reader 1: Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near ...
Reader 2: And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd....' "
Reader 1: A day of darkness and of gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Reader 2: And he went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
Reader 1: Like blackness, there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like had never been from of old, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations.
Reader 2: And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means place of the skull) ... and when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Reader 1: "Yet even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments."
Reader 2: And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered ... and he broke down and wept ... And the Centurion who stood facing Jesus, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."
Reader 1: Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repent of evil.
Reader 2: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel, not that there is another gospel ...
Reader 1: Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children; even the nursing infants ... let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep and say, "Spare thy peoples, O Lord."
Reader 2: Spare thy peoples, O Lord!
Call To Stewardship (Pastor)
Out of the ashes God calls his children. Into the beauty of holiness he sends us, laden with gifts of his choosing, that we might return to him in love. Come bring your tithes and offerings to the Lord.
Offertory
Giving Of Our Tithes And Offerings
Doxology (In Unison)
Prayer Of Dedication (Liturgist)
Lord, you brought beauty from the ashes of our sins. You bring healing and love from our gifts. Accept them and multiply them in Christ's name. Amen.
Anthem
"Ashes"
(Or Hymn)
"Abide With Me"
Message
Out Of Ashes
Pastor: Tonight we observe this holy day with ashes and elements of Holy Communion. How can we miss the leap from death to life? Out of ashes come life, beauty, and renewal. Lent is a time of renewal. In some traditions it is a time for "giving up" something important to spend more time in prayer and worship. It's easy to make light of this tradition with flippant remarks like, "I'm giving up watermelon for Lent," or, "Maybe if I fast I'll lose that weight I gained with all the Christmas goodies."
It's not necessarily bad to laugh at our foolishness, but we miss the point if we never get beyond the frivolous fun-making. God is more interested in our inner being than any physical sacrifice we could make. Out of the ashes can come renewal if we look beyond the ugliness of soot and grime.
Putting on sackcloth and sitting in a bed of ashes was a way of repenting. It simply meant taking ourselves down a notch or two on the ladder of self-importance -- getting our head out of the clouds long enough to see where we are going so we can repent -- or turn around when necessary.
Sitting in the ashes prevented any distractions as well as made one realize that ultimately that is where the body goes -- to dust.
Tonight is a call to repentance -- to turn our lives around -- to give up those things which would hold us back from serving God fully.
Many years ago ...
(Joel enters, dressed in sackcloth)
Joel: Uh ... Pastor ... pardon me, but ...
Pastor: Excuse me. I'm trying to tell these folks how to repent. Who are you and why are you here?
Joel: My name is Joel. I am a prophet of God. And pardon me for saying so, but you are ... well ... going about it the wrong way.
Pastor: Oh, really? I suppose you could do better?
Joel: Well, actually, I've had a little practice. You need to put a little more oomph in it.
Pastor: Such as?
Joel: To call the people to repentance and prayer you say:
Gird on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because cereal offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God. Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God; and cry to the Lord. Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes ...
..."Yet even now,"�says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare thy people, O Lord...."
-- Joel 1:13-15; 2:12-17a (RSV)
(Joel leaves repeating the last line)
Pastor: Well, eh ... I see what you mean. Out of the ashes comes repentance -- a repentance of the heart --�not just words across the lips.
And, you know something? The worst of it was the way he included preachers and priests and ministers. I sort of hoped we were exempt. But ... sackcloth and ashes? Maybe symbolically -- but then again, maybe not. Surely the ashes of Ash Wednesday are a reminder of the wrong paths we have taken and the need to turn around -- to repent.
But does it end there? Can we crawl in our bed of ashes and wallow in self-pity? Probably not. Repentance is not the same as self-pity. Repentance leads to wholeness and beauty.
Out of the ashes comes beauty and ...
(Artist enters with charcoal drawing and piece of charcoal)
Pastor: Excuse me. Are you looking for something?
Artist: No. You just mentioned beauty from ashes and I thought you might want an example.
Pastor: Well ... eh ... sure. Why not? They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- or something like that.
Artist: This should cut your message considerably.
Pastor: Maybe. Tell us about it.
Artist: You see this little piece of charcoal? It is the ashes of a burned grapevine. And you know how important the grape is in our worship. With this piece of charcoal, I can draw many things from the simple line drawing on a canvas for an oil or acrylic painting, to a black and white picture. Out of the ashes comes beauty when the artist gets down to work.
Pastor: Thank you for giving us new insight into what seemed to be only dirty ashes.
Artist: You're welcome. I have to run. I have some creating to do.
(Artist takes picture and leaves)
Pastor: Beauty does indeed come from ashes. Out of the ashes comes repentance. Out of the ashes comes beauty. There is more to ashes than dirt and dust.
There are times when even life comes out of the ashes. Anyone who has come through a house fire with only the clothes on their backs would be the first to tell about how people spring to life to help them --�and how they, themselves feel a closer understanding of what is really important in life. There are ...
(Forester enters carrying a small tree)
Pastor: Now what! I suppose you have a reason for carrying a tree in here.
Forester: Oh, indeed I do. You were talking about life out of ashes. Did you know that some trees -- jack pines for one -- can only be renewed by forest fires? The heat is needed to open the seeds. When the fire is gone, new forests grow out of the ashes. And besides that, ashes are used for fertilizing in helping many things grow. Just thought you might want to know that.
(Forester leaves, carrying his tree with him)
Pastor: Thank you for another perspective of ashes. Surely life comes from ashes and out of the ashes come beauty and repentance. Yes, tonight, Ash Wednesday, we celebrate God's call to repentance. Without repentance we would be lost. We celebrate the beauty which comes from ashes, and we celebrate life from ashes. There is one thought yet remaining: Out of the ashes comes the fire.
Have you ever sat around a campfire or cabin fireplace at night? When morning comes, there is a nice bed of ashes. Sometimes, if the fire was really big, underneath all those ashes is a glimmer of red. A small amount of paper, a few sticks and twigs and soon a fire is burning again -- springing to life from the ashes.
Out of the ashes come repentance, beauty and life, but one of the most life-giving miracles of history contained all three. Out of the ashes of true repentance came the fire of Pentecost bringing with it beauty and life. Out of the ashes of our lives tonight, may the Spirit rekindle the flame in our hearts.
Service Of Penitence And Holy Communion
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (v. 1)
Explanation Of Ashes (Liturgist)
This season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which is a time of forty days preceding Easter. In that time, we remember the Lord's passion and resurrection. Church history tells us it has always been observed with penitence, fasting, and prayer. In the early centuries, Lent provided a time for new converts to prepare for Baptism. People who had committed serious sins could then be reconciled by penitence and forgiveness and restored to the fellowship. The whole congregation was reminded of the mercy and forgiveness as proclaimed in the gospels. The service of ashes was given to remind us of mortality; from dust we come and to dust we will return.
Traditionally, ashes are from burned palm branches from Palm Sunday of the previous year. It is a symbol of turning away and need for repentance. The ashes represent the finality of our existence on this earth and the hope of the life to come.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Pastor)
Almighty God, from dust of the earth you created humankind. May these ashes remind us of our mortality and our need to repent. We thank you for your gracious gift of Jesus, our Christ, through whom we are given everlasting life. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession (Responsively)
Selections from Psalm 51
Leader:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
People:
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Leader:
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
People:
Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.
Leader:
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
People:
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Leader:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
People:
And put a new and right spirit within me.
Leader:
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
People:
Restore me to the joy of your salvation, and sustain me in a willing spirit.
Leader:
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
People:
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Passing Of The Peace
Hymn
"Search Me, O Lord"
Call To Communion (Pastor)
Come to this sacred time and place for the one meal we all celebrate together. Do not hold back out of fear or guilt. Love and forgiveness are offered. Come, let us prepare to feast!
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (v. 2)
Acts Of Consecration (Pastor)
Almighty God, Father of us all: In love and compassion you gave your only Son for our redemption, in the suffering of the cross. We remember your love and sacrifice and give thanks. We break the bread and pass the cup and dedicate ourselves to him who willingly chose the cross.
Lord Jesus, you were betrayed by a friend and deserted by those closest to you. Forgive us as you forgave them.
Holy Spirit of God, give us strength to live the promises we make this night. Give us guidance. May we leave the table and move to service. Give us power to follow the way of Jesus Christ. Make us ever aware of your work within us.
We are yours, God. Make us aware of your presence in this time of communion with you and throughout our lives. Amen.
Words Of Sharing (Pastor)
(Lift bread and cup alternately) This loaf represents the body of Christ which was given and broken for you and for me. This cup represents the blood of Christ which was shed and poured out for you and for me.
Participation In Ashes And Elements (Pastor)
(As the participants file to the front of the sanctuary, or several stations if a very large congregation, they receive the ashes on the forehead, or the back of their hand if they prefer, then take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup.)
Prayer (Pastor)
You have been present in this sacramental meal, our Father, and in the participation of the ashes. Go with us as we rise from your table nourished by your Holy Spirit. Give us power to serve and obey. Keep us aware of evil and temptation and your ever present Spirit within us. Restore us, renew us with new birth. Heal us beyond our understanding. Show us a new future with meaning and purpose. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (vv. 3 and 4)
Benediction (Pastor)
May the Bread of Life sustain you on your journey. May the blood spilled for you give you courage. May the ashes of life remind you of death and resurrection. May the blessing of God, whom we love as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, go with you now and forevermore. Amen.
Postlude
This service of ashes and Holy Communion is written especially for Ash Wednesday. It is a combination of hymns, scriptures, and readings.
Scriptures that are printed are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, except where stated otherwise. Responsive readings are paraphrased.
Participants for this service:
Pastor
Liturgist
Reader 1
Reader 2
Joel
Forester
Artist
Participants can either use costumes, or simply read the script.
Bulletin
Out Of The Ashes
A Service Of Ashes And Holy Communion For Ash Wednesday
Prelude
Lighting Of Candles
Call To Worship (Responsively)
Psalm 103:1-4
Leader:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
People:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.
Leader:
Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases;
People:
Who redeems your life from the Pit, and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
Prayer (In Unison)
Most Holy God, your Son came to save sinners. We come in repentance, confessing our unworthiness, asking for new hearts and your forgiveness. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
"Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days"
Welcome, Greeting, And Announcements
Echoes Of Joel
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Mark 11:9-10; 14:27, 32, 72; 15:22, 33, 39; Galatians 1:6-7a (portions paraphrased)
Call To Stewardship (Pastor)
Offertory
Giving Of Our Tithes And Offerings
Doxology (In Unison)
Prayer Of Dedication (Liturgist)
Anthem
"Ashes"
(Or Hymn)
"Abide With Me"
Message
Out Of Ashes
Service Of Penitence And Holy Communion
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (v. 1)
Explanation Of Ashes (Liturgist)
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Pastor)
Prayer Of Confession (Responsively)
Selections from Psalm 51
Leader:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
People:
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Leader:
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
People:
Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.
Leader:
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
People:
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Leader:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
People:
And put a new and right spirit within me.
Leader:
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
People:
Restore me to the joy of your salvation, and sustain me in a willing spirit.
Leader:
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
People:
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Passing Of The Peace
Hymn
"Search Me, O Lord"
Call To Communion (Pastor)
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (v. 2)
Acts Of Consecration (Pastor)
Words Of Sharing (Pastor)
Participation In Ashes And Elements (Pastor)
Prayer (Pastor)
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (vv. 3 and 4)
Benediction (Pastor)
Postlude
Service
Out Of The Ashes
A Service Of Ashes And Holy Communion For Ash Wednesday
Prelude
Lighting Of Candles
Call To Worship (Responsively)
Psalm 103:1-4
Leader:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
People:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.
Leader:
Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases;
People:
Who redeems your life from the Pit, and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
Prayer (In Unison)
Most Holy God, your Son came to save sinners. We come in repentance, confessing our unworthiness, asking for new hearts and your forgiveness. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
"Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days"
Welcome, Greeting, And Announcements
Echoes Of Joel
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Mark 11:9-10; 14:27, 32, 72; 15:22, 33, 39; Galatians 1:6-7a (portions paraphrased)
Reader 1: Blow the trumpet in Zion.
Reader 2: And those who went before and those who followed cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"
Reader 1: Sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Reader 2: It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth, and kill him ...
Reader 1: Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near ...
Reader 2: And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd....' "
Reader 1: A day of darkness and of gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Reader 2: And he went to a place which was called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
Reader 1: Like blackness, there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like had never been from of old, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations.
Reader 2: And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means place of the skull) ... and when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Reader 1: "Yet even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments."
Reader 2: And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered ... and he broke down and wept ... And the Centurion who stood facing Jesus, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."
Reader 1: Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repent of evil.
Reader 2: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel, not that there is another gospel ...
Reader 1: Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children; even the nursing infants ... let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep and say, "Spare thy peoples, O Lord."
Reader 2: Spare thy peoples, O Lord!
Call To Stewardship (Pastor)
Out of the ashes God calls his children. Into the beauty of holiness he sends us, laden with gifts of his choosing, that we might return to him in love. Come bring your tithes and offerings to the Lord.
Offertory
Giving Of Our Tithes And Offerings
Doxology (In Unison)
Prayer Of Dedication (Liturgist)
Lord, you brought beauty from the ashes of our sins. You bring healing and love from our gifts. Accept them and multiply them in Christ's name. Amen.
Anthem
"Ashes"
(Or Hymn)
"Abide With Me"
Message
Out Of Ashes
Pastor: Tonight we observe this holy day with ashes and elements of Holy Communion. How can we miss the leap from death to life? Out of ashes come life, beauty, and renewal. Lent is a time of renewal. In some traditions it is a time for "giving up" something important to spend more time in prayer and worship. It's easy to make light of this tradition with flippant remarks like, "I'm giving up watermelon for Lent," or, "Maybe if I fast I'll lose that weight I gained with all the Christmas goodies."
It's not necessarily bad to laugh at our foolishness, but we miss the point if we never get beyond the frivolous fun-making. God is more interested in our inner being than any physical sacrifice we could make. Out of the ashes can come renewal if we look beyond the ugliness of soot and grime.
Putting on sackcloth and sitting in a bed of ashes was a way of repenting. It simply meant taking ourselves down a notch or two on the ladder of self-importance -- getting our head out of the clouds long enough to see where we are going so we can repent -- or turn around when necessary.
Sitting in the ashes prevented any distractions as well as made one realize that ultimately that is where the body goes -- to dust.
Tonight is a call to repentance -- to turn our lives around -- to give up those things which would hold us back from serving God fully.
Many years ago ...
(Joel enters, dressed in sackcloth)
Joel: Uh ... Pastor ... pardon me, but ...
Pastor: Excuse me. I'm trying to tell these folks how to repent. Who are you and why are you here?
Joel: My name is Joel. I am a prophet of God. And pardon me for saying so, but you are ... well ... going about it the wrong way.
Pastor: Oh, really? I suppose you could do better?
Joel: Well, actually, I've had a little practice. You need to put a little more oomph in it.
Pastor: Such as?
Joel: To call the people to repentance and prayer you say:
Gird on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because cereal offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God. Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God; and cry to the Lord. Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes ...
..."Yet even now,"�says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare thy people, O Lord...."
-- Joel 1:13-15; 2:12-17a (RSV)
(Joel leaves repeating the last line)
Pastor: Well, eh ... I see what you mean. Out of the ashes comes repentance -- a repentance of the heart --�not just words across the lips.
And, you know something? The worst of it was the way he included preachers and priests and ministers. I sort of hoped we were exempt. But ... sackcloth and ashes? Maybe symbolically -- but then again, maybe not. Surely the ashes of Ash Wednesday are a reminder of the wrong paths we have taken and the need to turn around -- to repent.
But does it end there? Can we crawl in our bed of ashes and wallow in self-pity? Probably not. Repentance is not the same as self-pity. Repentance leads to wholeness and beauty.
Out of the ashes comes beauty and ...
(Artist enters with charcoal drawing and piece of charcoal)
Pastor: Excuse me. Are you looking for something?
Artist: No. You just mentioned beauty from ashes and I thought you might want an example.
Pastor: Well ... eh ... sure. Why not? They say a picture is worth a thousand words -- or something like that.
Artist: This should cut your message considerably.
Pastor: Maybe. Tell us about it.
Artist: You see this little piece of charcoal? It is the ashes of a burned grapevine. And you know how important the grape is in our worship. With this piece of charcoal, I can draw many things from the simple line drawing on a canvas for an oil or acrylic painting, to a black and white picture. Out of the ashes comes beauty when the artist gets down to work.
Pastor: Thank you for giving us new insight into what seemed to be only dirty ashes.
Artist: You're welcome. I have to run. I have some creating to do.
(Artist takes picture and leaves)
Pastor: Beauty does indeed come from ashes. Out of the ashes comes repentance. Out of the ashes comes beauty. There is more to ashes than dirt and dust.
There are times when even life comes out of the ashes. Anyone who has come through a house fire with only the clothes on their backs would be the first to tell about how people spring to life to help them --�and how they, themselves feel a closer understanding of what is really important in life. There are ...
(Forester enters carrying a small tree)
Pastor: Now what! I suppose you have a reason for carrying a tree in here.
Forester: Oh, indeed I do. You were talking about life out of ashes. Did you know that some trees -- jack pines for one -- can only be renewed by forest fires? The heat is needed to open the seeds. When the fire is gone, new forests grow out of the ashes. And besides that, ashes are used for fertilizing in helping many things grow. Just thought you might want to know that.
(Forester leaves, carrying his tree with him)
Pastor: Thank you for another perspective of ashes. Surely life comes from ashes and out of the ashes come beauty and repentance. Yes, tonight, Ash Wednesday, we celebrate God's call to repentance. Without repentance we would be lost. We celebrate the beauty which comes from ashes, and we celebrate life from ashes. There is one thought yet remaining: Out of the ashes comes the fire.
Have you ever sat around a campfire or cabin fireplace at night? When morning comes, there is a nice bed of ashes. Sometimes, if the fire was really big, underneath all those ashes is a glimmer of red. A small amount of paper, a few sticks and twigs and soon a fire is burning again -- springing to life from the ashes.
Out of the ashes come repentance, beauty and life, but one of the most life-giving miracles of history contained all three. Out of the ashes of true repentance came the fire of Pentecost bringing with it beauty and life. Out of the ashes of our lives tonight, may the Spirit rekindle the flame in our hearts.
Service Of Penitence And Holy Communion
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (v. 1)
Explanation Of Ashes (Liturgist)
This season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which is a time of forty days preceding Easter. In that time, we remember the Lord's passion and resurrection. Church history tells us it has always been observed with penitence, fasting, and prayer. In the early centuries, Lent provided a time for new converts to prepare for Baptism. People who had committed serious sins could then be reconciled by penitence and forgiveness and restored to the fellowship. The whole congregation was reminded of the mercy and forgiveness as proclaimed in the gospels. The service of ashes was given to remind us of mortality; from dust we come and to dust we will return.
Traditionally, ashes are from burned palm branches from Palm Sunday of the previous year. It is a symbol of turning away and need for repentance. The ashes represent the finality of our existence on this earth and the hope of the life to come.
Prayer Of Thanksgiving (Pastor)
Almighty God, from dust of the earth you created humankind. May these ashes remind us of our mortality and our need to repent. We thank you for your gracious gift of Jesus, our Christ, through whom we are given everlasting life. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession (Responsively)
Selections from Psalm 51
Leader:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
People:
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Leader:
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
People:
Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.
Leader:
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
People:
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Leader:
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
People:
And put a new and right spirit within me.
Leader:
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
People:
Restore me to the joy of your salvation, and sustain me in a willing spirit.
Leader:
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
People:
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Passing Of The Peace
Hymn
"Search Me, O Lord"
Call To Communion (Pastor)
Come to this sacred time and place for the one meal we all celebrate together. Do not hold back out of fear or guilt. Love and forgiveness are offered. Come, let us prepare to feast!
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (v. 2)
Acts Of Consecration (Pastor)
Almighty God, Father of us all: In love and compassion you gave your only Son for our redemption, in the suffering of the cross. We remember your love and sacrifice and give thanks. We break the bread and pass the cup and dedicate ourselves to him who willingly chose the cross.
Lord Jesus, you were betrayed by a friend and deserted by those closest to you. Forgive us as you forgave them.
Holy Spirit of God, give us strength to live the promises we make this night. Give us guidance. May we leave the table and move to service. Give us power to follow the way of Jesus Christ. Make us ever aware of your work within us.
We are yours, God. Make us aware of your presence in this time of communion with you and throughout our lives. Amen.
Words Of Sharing (Pastor)
(Lift bread and cup alternately) This loaf represents the body of Christ which was given and broken for you and for me. This cup represents the blood of Christ which was shed and poured out for you and for me.
Participation In Ashes And Elements (Pastor)
(As the participants file to the front of the sanctuary, or several stations if a very large congregation, they receive the ashes on the forehead, or the back of their hand if they prefer, then take a piece of bread and dip it in the cup.)
Prayer (Pastor)
You have been present in this sacramental meal, our Father, and in the participation of the ashes. Go with us as we rise from your table nourished by your Holy Spirit. Give us power to serve and obey. Keep us aware of evil and temptation and your ever present Spirit within us. Restore us, renew us with new birth. Heal us beyond our understanding. Show us a new future with meaning and purpose. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
Hymn
"What Wondrous Love" (vv. 3 and 4)
Benediction (Pastor)
May the Bread of Life sustain you on your journey. May the blood spilled for you give you courage. May the ashes of life remind you of death and resurrection. May the blessing of God, whom we love as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, go with you now and forevermore. Amen.
Postlude
