Ash Wednesday - February 17 (30-min)

Worship videos on YouTube for Ash Wednesday - 30 Minutes



Ash Wednesday Service
Wednesday, February 17, 2021


How to prepare your ashes:  
Add a drop of olive oil or two and mix. 
Add another drop if necessary.  


It should be a paste


Assembly gathers for silence


Pastor Daniel and the assembly greet each other.
GREETING 
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.


Pastor Daniel leads the prayer of the day.
PRAYER OF THE DAY 
Let us pray. 
A brief silence is kept before the prayer. 
Almighty and ever-living God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and honest hearts, so that, truly repenting of our sins, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy, full pardon and forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.


Our first reading is read by Sue Koenig
FIRST READING: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Our first reading is from Joel.


 1Blow the trumpet in Zion;
 sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
 Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
 for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near--
 2a day of darkness and gloom,
 a day of clouds and thick darkness!
 Like blackness spread upon the mountains
 a great and powerful army comes;
 their like has never been from of old,
 nor will be again after them
 in ages to come.

 12Yet even now, says the Lord,
 return to me with all your heart,
 with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
 13rend your hearts and not your clothing.
 Return to the Lord, your God,
 for he is gracious and merciful,
 slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
 and relents from punishing.
 14Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
 and leave a blessing behind him,
 a grain offering and a drink offering
 for the Lord, your God?

 15Blow the trumpet in Zion;
 sanctify a fast;
 call a solemn assembly;
 16gather the people.
 Sanctify the congregation;
 assemble the aged;
 gather the children,
 even infants at the breast.
 Let the bridegroom leave his room,
 and the bride her canopy.

 17Between the vestibule and the altar
 let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep.
 Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
 and do not make your heritage a mockery,
 a byword among the nations.
 Why should it be said among the peoples,
 ‘Where is their God?’ ”


The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.


Sue Koenig leads the assembly in psalm response.
PSALM: Psalm 51:1-17


    1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
 in your great compassion blot out my offenses.
 2Wash me through and through from my wickedness,
 and cleanse me from my sin.
 3For I know my offenses,
 and my sin is ever before me.
 4Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;
 so you are justified when you speak and right in your judgment.
 5Indeed, I was born steeped in wickedness,
 a sinner from my mother’s womb.
 6Indeed, you delight in truth deep within me,
 and would have me know wisdom deep within.
 7Remove my sins with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
 wash me, and I shall be purer than snow.
 8Let me hear joy and gladness;
 that the body you have broken may rejoice.
 9Hide your face from my sins,
 and blot out all my wickedness.
 10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
 and renew a right spirit within me.
 11Cast me not away from your presence,
 and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation
 and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
 13Let me teach your ways to offenders,
 and sinners shall be restored to you.
 14Rescue me from bloodshed, O God of my salvation,
 and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness.
 15O Lord, open my lips,
 and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
 16For you take no delight in sacrifice, or I would give it.
 You are not pleased with burnt offering.
 17The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit;
 a troubled and broken heart, O God, you will not despise.


Our second reading  is read by Sue Koenig
SECOND READING: 2 Corinthians 5:20b--6:10
Our Second reading is from 2 Corinthians. 


20bWe entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
 6:1As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2For he says,
 “At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
 and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.


The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.




Andy Heroff will lead the assembly in the gospel acclamation
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 


Let your steadfast love come to us, O Lord.
Let your steadfast love come to us, O Lord.
Save us as you promised; we will trust your word.
Let your steadfast love come to us, O Lord.


The gospel is read by Pastor Daniel Morris.
GOSPEL: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21


The holy gospel according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.


[Jesus said to the disciples:] 1“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
 2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 5“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 16“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”


The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.




Pastor Daniel Morris proclaims God’s Word for you in the sermon.
SERMON





Ben and Karen Dahlke will lead the assembly in our Hymn of the Day.
HYMN OF THE DAY The Glory of These Forty Days 

1 The glory of these forty days we celebrate with songs of praise;
for Christ, through whom all things were made, himself has fasted and has prayed.

2 Alone and fasting Moses saw the loving God who gave the law;
and to Elijah, fasting, came the steeds and chariots of flame.


Pastor Daniel Morris invites the assembly into the discipline of Lent
INVITATION TO LENT
Friends in Christ, today with the whole church we enter the time of remembering Jesus’ passover from death to life, and our life in Christ is renewed.
We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need for repentance and for God’s mercy. We are created to experience joy in communion with God, to love one another, and to live in harmony with creation. But our sinful rebellion separates us from God, our neighbors, and creation, so that we do not enjoy the life our creator intended.
As disciples of Jesus, we are called to a discipline that contends against evil and resists whatever leads us away from love of God and neighbor. I invite you, therefore, to the discipline of Lent—self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving and works of love—strengthened by the gifts of word and sacrament. Let us continue our journey through these forty days to the great Three Days of Jesus’ death and resurrection.


Pastor Daniel Morris
CONFESSION OF SIN 
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection and self-examination.
Most holy and merciful God,
we confess to you and to one another,
and before the whole company of heaven,
that we have sinned by our fault,
by our own fault,
by our own most grievous fault,
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, O God.
We have shut our ears to your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our past unfaithfulness, the pride, envy, hypocrisy, and apathy that have infected our lives, we confess to you.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people, we confess to you.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to share the faith that is in us, we confess to you.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our neglect of human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty, we confess to you.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our false judgments, our uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us, we confess to you.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us, we confess to you.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Restore us, O God, and let your anger depart from us.
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.


Pastor Daniel Morris
IMPOSITION OF ASHES
We dedicated the Ashes with the following prayer when we gathered in the parking lot last Sunday. 


Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth.
May these ashes be a sign of our mortality and penitence, reminding us
that only by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ are we given eternal life;
through the same Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.


At this time, you may distribute the ashes to the members of your household. If you do not have ash, you may still trace the sign of the cross on your forehead with your finger and repeat the words below. 


Dip your thumb into the ash and trace a cross on the forehead of each member of your household while saying these words from Genesis 3:19, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Ask someone to trace a cross on your forehead. If you are the sole member of your household, trace the ashen cross on your forehead. 


MUSIC FOR REFLECTION: Ashes


After those who desire ashes have received them, all may kneel or sit, and Pastor Daniel continues.
Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation,
that we may show forth your glory in the world.
By the cross and passion of your Son, our Savior,
bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.
Amen.


Jason Fralish  leads the assembly in prayer
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need.
A brief silence.
O God, you call your church to be ministers of reconciliation throughout the world. Inspire your church in its proclamation of the gospel and guide its ministries to build up the body of Christ. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.


O God, you created the earth and all its inhabitants and you declared that it is good. Protect mountains and valleys, animals and plants, and direct us to be good stewards of all you have made. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.


O God, you desire peace. Direct governments and leaders to work for the well-being of all people and raise up advocates to speak and serve on behalf of the downtrodden. Lord, in your mercy.
hear our prayer.


O God, you are our hope in the midst of despair, our help in the midst of sorrow, and our consolation in the midst of affliction. Grant comfort to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit and support caregivers who attend to all in need. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.


O God, you are love, and you call us to love one another. Accompany with your grace those journeying toward baptism and call us all to repentance as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.


We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.







OFFERING Harmony  “Create in Me a Clean Heart”
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.




Jason Fralish leads the assembly in prayer. 
PRAYER
Let us pray.
A brief silence is kept.
Merciful God, accompany our journey through these forty days. Renew us in the gift of baptism, that we may provide for those who are poor, pray for those in need, fast from self-indulgence, and above all that we may find our treasure in the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.


Pastor Daniel
LORD’S PRAYER 
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.


Ben and Karen Dahlke will lead the assembly in our sending song
SENDING SONG  ”The Glory of These Forty Days” 
3 So Daniel trained his mystic sight, delivered from the lions' might;
and John, the Bridegroom's friend, became the herald of Messiah's name.

4 Then grant, O God, that we may, too, return in fast and prayer to you.
Our spirits strengthen with your grace, and give us joy to see your face.


Pastor Daniel
BLESSING
You are what God made you to be:
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
chosen as holy and beloved,
freed to serve your neighbor.
God bless you ☩ that you may be a blessing,
in the name of the holy and life-giving Trinity.
Amen.
Jason Fralish addresses the assembly
DISMISSAL 
Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness;
be of good courage; 
hold fast to that which is good;
render to no one evil for evil; 
strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak;
help the afflicted; honor all people; 
love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks be to God.





GIVING YOUR OFFERING
We thank God for all that we have and all that we are as we make our offering. You can give your offering in many different ways: Mailing our check to church / Using our own bank website “send-payment” feature / Going to www.peacelutheranlz.com and clicking on “make a donation” / or, downloading and using the app: https://giveplushelp.vancopayments.com/. 
 
THANK YOU
So much gratitude for everyone who has contributed to worship today.  The young and old, readers, musicians, and the technical help are all making this possible.  Find all of this week’s announcements in the Prints of Peace on the PLC website.   Allison Hearst, Office Admin: office@peacelutheranlz.com  /  Deacon Tracy Katschke: tracy@peacelutheranlz.com  /  Pastor Daniel Morris: pastor@peacelutheranlz.com 
 
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One License #A-704422   All scripture readings are from the NRSV.