THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN WORSHIP

Ash Wednesday

February 6,  2008 Six O’clock

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP                                 “What Wondrous Love is This”

Leesa Levisay, soprano, Chris Marble, clarinet

* OPENING PRAYER  (Unison)

God of infinite patience and love, we come to you this day, having just gone through the season of greed. We embark on this Lenten journey not sure if we want to make the spiritual trip. It is easy for us to get caught up in our own needs and our own anxieties. We are a people of great “want,” and we need to become a people of great “faith.” Stop us and remove us from the self-destructive journey on which we were living. Place us on your track of hope and salvation. Forgive our stubbornness, and heal our sorrowful souls. For we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

* HYMN   # 81                                                    “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON                                                                      Isaiah 58:1-12

SPECIAL MUSIC             “Pie Jesu” from the Requiem                      Andrew Lloyd Webber

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON                                                         Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

SERMON                                                                          “An Easily Defeated Purpose”

* HYMN # 316                                                                              “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                                 “The Nicene Creed”

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light; Very God of Very God; begotten, not made; being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.  Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilot.  He suffered and was buried.  The third day, he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father.  And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.  I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the prophets.  And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.  I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

INVITATION TO THE OBSERVANCE OF THE LENTEN DISCIPLINE

LITANY OF HUMILITY  (responsive)

From the desire to be esteemed, deliver me.
From the desire to be loved, deliver me.
From the desire to be honored, deliver me.
From the desire to be praised, deliver me.
From the desire to be preferred to others, deliver me.
From the desire to be consulted, deliver me.
From the desire to be approved, deliver me.

From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me.
From the fear of being despised, deliver me.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me.

That others may be loved more than I, grant me the grace to desire this.
That others may be esteemed more than I, grant me the grace to desire this.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may, increase and I may decrease, grant me the grace to desire this.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, grant me the grace to desire this.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed, grant me the grace to desire this.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, grant me the grace to desire this.

That I may be wholly thine, now and for all eternity, Amen.

* PRAYER (unison)

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.

* IMPOSITION OF ASHES

Those who wish to come forward to receive the imposition of ashes are invited to do so by coming up the center aisle, receiving the ashes from the pastor, and returning to their seats by way of the side aisles.

CLOSING PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (unison)

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 our Savior, bring us with all your saints to the joy of Christ’s resurrection.  For it is in his name that we pray the prayer that he taught us:  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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

* RECESSIONAL HYMN # 397 “O for a Closer Walk With God”

* CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

* CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE                                                                    “Seek Ye First”

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.  Allelu, Alleluia!  Ask and it shall be given unto to you.  Seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you, Allelu, Alleluia!

* postlude

*  Please stand if you are able

Pastor: Sharon L. Bryant Choral Director: Leesa Levisay

Lector:  Linda Bowden Organist: Jane Sweeny