Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 10th
Contents
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?"
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