Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, February 10th

Gathering

All gather outside the church, and enter together in silence.

Call to Worship

Leader: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Leader: Let us worship the Lord.

Opening Prayer

We begin our journey to Easter with the sign of ashes. This ancient sign speaks of the frailty and uncertainty of human life, and marks the penitence of this community.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of Christ,

to observe a holy Lent

by self-examination and penitence,

by prayer and fasting,

by works of love,

and by reading and meditating on the Word of God.

Let us bow before God, our Creator and Redeemer,

and confess our sin.

The Word

Scripture Reading

Matthew 4:1-11

• Click here to view the video at YouTube.com
• Click here to read the passage (NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser

Imposition of Ashes

Almighty God,

you have created us out of the dust of the earth.

May these ashes be for us

a sign of our mortality and penitence,

and a reminder that only by your gracious gift

are we given everlasting life;

through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Amen.

• Each person will come forward to receive the imposition of ashes. When you receive the ashes, go into your inventory, find the ashes (type "ashes" in your inventory search) right click on them, and select "add."

• During this time, a song will be played via video.

"How did Jesus spend those 40 days in the desert?"

• Click here to view the video at YouTube.com

Leader: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

People: Amen

Sending

Closing Prayer

May the God of peace

make you holy in every way

and keep your whole being—

spirit, soul, and body—

free from every fault

at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God

Depart in Silence