Liturgy For wherever you are

Ash Wednesday

February 17, 2021

ENGAGE WITH WORSHIP

Ash Wednesday is the start of the Church season of Lent. It marks the start of a 40-day period of reflection, penitence and fasting with a service in which time is given to center ourselves on the life of Jesus and to remember our own frailty. Ashes are imposed as we are reminded that “we are dust, and to dust we will return.” And we are sent out with the reminder that Jesus forgives, Jesus heals, and Jesus gives us hope and strength to face the challenges we face.

This season we are especially reminded of the fragility of life, as the pandemic and continued restrictions afflict and affect us in all spheres of life. Henri Nouwen writes, “Our life is full of brokenness—broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokenness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God’s faithful presence in our lives.”

So we invite you to join us this Ash Wednesday as you are, whether it’s with hope or grief. We have designed it as close to the experience we would have had together in the Chapel. We will sing familiar songs, we will have a time of confession, and we will impose ashes on our foreheads. The theme of our service is brokenness and the hope that the risen Christ, which we celebrate at Easter, gives us even as we experience long periods of shadow and pain. Be sure to set aside time and space to enter in fully, without distractions, to make space for God to meet you through the words shared and the guided prayer experiences. You will need to have a few things at hand: a candle, a bowl of water, salt and a bowl of dirt or something that you plan to use in place of the ashes we would normally impose.

As with any invitation to worship, we pray that God will meet you through this offering, that you would feel His “face shining upon you” and that He will give you the peace that is beyond our understanding.

-Pastor Gretchen

Lyrics*

Come Ye Sinners

Gary W. Chapman | Joseph Hart | William W. Walker

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and pow’r:

I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in his arms
In the arms of my dear savior
Oh there are ten thousand charms

Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome;
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings us nigh,

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all:

View him prostrate in the garden,
On the ground your maker lies;
On the bloody tree behold Him!
Sinner, will not this suffice?

Lo! th’ incarnate God, ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood;
Venture on Him, venture wholly;
Let no other trust intrude:

Kyrie Eleison (A Song of Confession)

Cindy Rethmeier | Ted Kim

For the things we’ve done and left undone
For the ways we’ve wandered from your heart
Forgive us, we pray
Forgive us, we pray

For the idols we put on Your throne
For the loves we choose above Your own
Forgive us, we pray
Forgive us, we pray

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us, on us

For the lies that we clutch to our chests
For the fear that wants to steal our breath
Forgive us, we pray
And give us Your grace

Forgiving God, forgiving us

Goodness of God

Ben Fielding | Brian Johnson | Ed Cash | Jason Ingram | Jenn Johnson

I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days
I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God

All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest night
You are close like no other
I've known You as a father
I've known You as a friend
I have lived in the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after
It's running after me

Credits

We hope you enjoyed this offering from our hearts to yours! John Kelly welcomed us. Mary read our scripture. Chip offered a reflection and returned later for the benediction. Gretchen led our guided prayer experiences. Our music makers included Leslie, Michael Mann, John Jay, and Corrie. Leslie oversaw the production while Harriet worked her technical magic to mix this collaborative worship experience. Gretchen and Chip designed this Ash Wednesday experience for us, and we pray you were blessed as you engaged with it.