Lectionary Readings
Joel 2:1–2, 12–17
The day of the Lord is coming; return to God with all your heart.
or Isaiah 58:1–12
The fast God chooses: do justice, release captives, help the poor.
Psalm 51:1–17
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new spirit within me.
2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10
Be reconciled to God in Christ; now is the day of salvation!
Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21
Don’t flaunt your fasting and prayer; store up treasure in heaven.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
Day after day we seek humility.
Give us clean hearts, O God.
Teach us justice and freedom
in sharing bread and welcoming the outcast.
Give us clean hearts, O God.
Now is the time to repent, without delay or excuse.
Give us clean hearts, O God.
Prayer of the Day
Holy God,
in the stillness of the hour,
we listen for the Spirit’s voice.
With broken hearts,
we remember our faults and fears.
And still, the Comforter comes and soothes
so that we may feel the power of promised forgiveness.
As we journey with Christ
and seek strength for the life of faith,
may we be reconciled unto God. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the mercy you so freely offer us
through the grace of our baptism—
safe passage through the sea,
justice rolling down like water,
deliverance from sin and death forever.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
teach us to love and serve you faithfully
and reconcile us to you and to one another
as members of one, living body;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
NOTE: In the service for Ash Wednesday, the Confession/Pardon may be replaced by Psalm 51 and the Litany of Penitence, following the Sermon.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
In the name of Christ, I urge you:
Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
Create in us a clean heart, O God,
And put a new and right spirit within us.
Cast us not away from your presence,
and restore in us the joy of your salvation.
From dust we came and to dust we shall return.
While we are here, O God, forgive us of our sins,
and teach us to use every minute from our birth to our grave
for the glory of your reign.
Lifting water from the font:
Listen, the time has come at last.
Look, now is the day of salvation!
2 Corinthians 6:2
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Merciful God,
your Word is our way of truth and life.
Create in us hearts that are clean
and put your Holy Spirit within us,
so that we may receive your grace
and declare your praise forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
Psalm 51:15
After the readings:
We proclaim Christ crucified—
the wisdom and power of God.
Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 1:23–25
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
we bend our knees
and lift up our hearts,
giving glory to God forever. Amen.
Philippians 2:9–11
Invitation to Lenten Discipline
Psalm 51
Litany of Penitence
Imposition of Ashes
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Season of Lent, Ash Wednesday
The reconciling act of God in Jesus Christ
exposes the evil in people
as sin in the sight of God.
In sin, people claim mastery of their own lives,
turn against God and each other,
and become exploiters
and despoilers of the world.
They lose their humanity in futile striving
and are left in rebellion, despair, and isolation.
But God’s love never changes.
Against all who oppose the divine will,
God expresses love in wrath.
In the same love, God bore judgment
and shameful death in Jesus Christ,
to bring all people to repentance and new life.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.12, 9.14
Prayers of Intercession
God of steadfast love and abundant mercy,
we are sinners in your sight.
With contrite hearts we pray to you.
We pray for true repentance . . .
Deliver us from bloodshed
and turn our hearts toward you.
According to your loving-kindness,
have mercy, O God.
We pray for a clean heart . . .
Save us from guilt that imprisons.
According to your loving-kindness,
have mercy, O God.
We pray for a new and right spirit . . .
Free us to walk in your light.
According to your loving-kindness,
have mercy, O God.
We pray for justice and peace . . .
Sovereign God, rule over us.
According to your loving-kindness,
have mercy, O God.
We pray for the brokenhearted . . .
Even in their sorrow help them to rejoice in you.
According to your loving-kindness,
have mercy, O God.
We pray for those who suffer for your gospel’s sake . . .
Assure them of your presence in all times.
According to your loving-kindness,
have mercy, O God.
We pray for deliverance from hypocrisy and greed . . .
Show us where true treasure lies.
According to your loving-kindness,
have mercy, O God.
God of steadfast love and abundant mercy,
we who are sinners in your sight
rejoice in your loving-kindness.
Renew us by your Spirit
as we walk with Christ on our Lenten journey.
To you, holy, triune God,
be honor and glory now and forever. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
Jesus says: Where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Matthew 6:21
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
You have shown us, O God,
the sacrifice that you desire.
Now use these gifts—
and use our lives—
to liberate the oppressed,
to break the bonds of injustice,
to feed the hungry,
welcome the poor,
and unite the human family;
all in the name and for the sake
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Isaiah 58:6–7
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The fast that you desire is righteousness and justice, compassion and peace:
to feed the hungry, help the poor, welcome the stranger, and set captives free.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Jesus teaches sincerity of faith, and purity of heart in prayer and action—
not to make a spectacle of worship or charity, but to seek the inner gifts of grace;
not to store up treasures on earth, but to trust the heavenly treasure of your love.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Keep us faithful through hardship and suffering, hunger and sleepless nights.
Grant us purity, patience, kindness, holiness, truthful speech, and genuine love,
so that we may be reconciled to you through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
Holy God, we give you thanks
that you have claimed us as your own
and nourished us in this meal
as members of Christ’s body.
By the work of your Spirit within us
give us the grace to glorify you
as one, living body in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
1 Corinthians 6:15–20
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the steadfast love of God,
the abundant grace of Jesus Christ,
and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit
be with you this day and always. Amen.
Psalm 51:1, 11
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus:
If any wish to be my disciples
let them take up the cross
and follow me. Amen.
Mark 8:34
Ash Wednesday
Karl Spitzweg, 1855
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee (WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT) GTG 816 (O)
- I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (KINGSFOLD) GTG 182 (O)
- Sign Us with Ashes (PHOENIX) GTG 433 (G)
- The Glory of These Forty Days (ERHALT UNS, HERR) GTG 165 (G)
WORD
- When the Poor Ones / Cuando el pobre (EL CAMINO) GTG 762 (O)
- Where Charity and Love Prevail (TWENTY-FOURTH) GTG 316 (E)
- Forty Days and Forty Nights (AUS DER TIEFE RUFE ICH) GTG 167 (G)
EUCHARIST
- My Faith Looks Up to Thee (OLIVET) GTG 829 (O)
- Come Now, O Prince of Peace (O-SO-SO) GTG 103 (E)
- O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (PASSION CHORALE) GTG 221 (E)
- Hear My Prayer, O God (HYMN CHANT) GTG 782 (G)
SENDING
- Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness (CHRIST, BE OUR LIGHT) GTG 314 (O)
- Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive (DETROIT) GTG 444 (E)
- Steal Away (STEAL AWAY) GTG 358 (G)
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 51:1–17
Metrical
- Still, My Soul Be Still [IRREGULAR] GWA 168
- Lord, Make Me More Holy [IRREGULAR] AAHH 632
Responsorial
- The Sacrifice You Accept PH 196
- Cast Me Not Away from Your Presence UMH 785
Organ Music
- “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound,” God with Us: Eleven Pieces for Organ, arr. Emma Lou Diemer, SAC (ME)
- “Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott,” BWV 721, J. S. Bach, IMSLP (ME)
- “Kyrie (5 Couplets),” Mass for the Convents, François Couperin, IMSLP (M)
- “Choral Dorien,” Two Chorals, JA 67-68, Jehan Alain, IMSLP (A)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Create in Me,” Victor Johnson, LOR, SATB, pno (E)
- “Create in Me,” Terre Johnson, MSM, SATB, pno (E)
- “Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus,” David Cherwien, MSM, SATB, pno and C inst (M)
- “Miserere Mei,” Antonio Lotti, CPDL, SATB, acap (M)
- “To Dust,” Karen Marrolli, MSM, SATB, pno (M)
Art
- The Pharisee and the Publican, JESUS MAFA, 1973 (VDL)
- Ash, Mike Moyers, 2016 (VDL)
- Ash Wednesday, Carl Spitzweg, 1855 (VDL)
- Man Praying to the Holy Spirit, Guillaume Vrelant, 1460–69 (VDL)
- Aschenblume, Anselm Kiefer, 1983–97 (VCS)
