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 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
THE CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before
Ash Wednesday – February 17, 2021 me. Against You, You alone, have I sinned, and done what is
evil in Your sight,
PRAY-LUDE Create in me a clean heart, O God.
THE LIGHT OF CHRIST ENTERS THE SANCTUARY Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and
right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your
*GREETING Rev. Middleton Presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Leader: The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
Restore to me the joy of Your Salvation, and sustain in
Response: And also with you me a willing spirit. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will
Leader: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins declare Your praise.
Response: God’s mercy endures forever Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a right
Let us remain standing as we pray in silence for grace to spirit in me.
keep Lent faithfully. MESSAGE: “Hearts and Ashes” Rev. Middleton
Pray in Silence Invitation to Lenten Discipline BOW 322 Rev. Andrews
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
*UNISON PRAYER Rev. Andrews The early Christians observed with great devotion the
Almighty and merciful God, You hate nothing that days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became
You have made and forgive the sins of all who are the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration
penitent; create in us new and contrite hearts, so that there should be a forty-day season of spiritual preparation.
when we turn to You and confess our sins we may During this season converts to the faith were prepared for
receive Your full and perfect forgiveness; through Jesus Holy Baptism. It was also a time when persons who had
Christ our Redeemer who lives and reigns with You and committed serious sins and had separated themselves from
the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.     the community of faith were reconciled by penitence and
SCRIPTURE LESSON Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Rev. Freeland forgiveness, and restored to participation in the life of the
Church.
*HYMN “I Surrender All” # 354 In this way the whole congregation was reminded of the
SCRIPTURE LESSON Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Rev. Andrews mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the Gospel of Jesus
RESPONSE TO THE WORD: Christ and the need we all have to renew our faith.
Leader: The Word of God for the People of God I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe
People: Thanks be to God! a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer,
Psalm 51:1-4, 10-12, 15 Rev. Freeland fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on
Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God. God’s Holy Word. To make a right beginning of repentance,
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel (bow)
love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my before our Creator and Redeemer.
transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, Let us pray and in silence call to mind our sin and the
and cleanse me from my sin. infinite mercy of God.
(Silence) turn to You. Forgive us, for our Saviour Christ’s sake,
CONFESSION AND PARDON Rev. Middleton and renew our lives to the glory of Your name. Amen.
We have not loved You with all our heart, and soul, and THANKSGIVING OVER THE ASHES BOW 323 Rev. Freeland
mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbours as Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the
ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been earth. Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our
forgiven. Lord have mercy. mortality and penitence, so that we may remember that only
Lord have mercy. by your gracious gift are we given everlasting life; through
We have been deaf to Your call to serve. Jesus Christ our Savior.
We have been unfaithful, proud, and hypocritical. Amen.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy. IMPOSITION OF ASHES
We have been self-centered, and have taken advantage of UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
others. Lord have mercy. O God our deliverer, You led Your people of old
Lord have mercy. through the wilderness and brought them to the
We have been envious of those more fortunate than promised land. Guide now the people of Your church,
ourselves. Christ have mercy. that, following our Savior, we may walk through the
Christ have mercy. wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to
We have loved worldly goods and comforts too much. come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
We have been dishonest in daily life and work. reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and
Lord have mercy. forever. Amen. [The Lutheran Book of Worship]
Lord have mercy. THE LORD’S PRAYER
We have neglected prayer and worship, and have failed to
commend the faith that is in us. Christ have mercy. *HYMN “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” # 382
Christ have mercy. BENEDICTION
We have been blind to human need and suffering, and
indifferent to injustice and cruelty. Lord have mercy. THE LIGHT GOES FORTH
Lord have mercy. POSTLUDE
We have thought uncharitably about others, and we have
been prejudiced towards those who differ from us.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
We have wasted and polluted Your creation, and lacked ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
concern for those who come after us. Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Believe Build
Merciful God, we have sinned in what we have Become Belong
thought and said, in the wrong we have done and in the ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
good we have not done. We have sinned in ignorance: we
have sinned in weakness: we have sinned through our
own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry. We repent and