Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday February 26, 2020

The Imposition of Ashes
Prior to the service those who wish to receive ashes to mark the start of the Lenten season may do so. Quietly come forward on each aisle and then return back to your seat. 

Silence for personal reflection

The Ringing of the Church Bell

The Opening Hymn LSB#440, v. 1
“Jesus I will Ponder Now”
The Sentences

P: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” the words of the preacher, O Lord, spoken as the final comment on life.

C: THE WORDS OF ENDING RECALL OUR BEGINNING, FOR OUT OF THE DUST OF THE GROUND GOD FORMED MAN AND BREATHED INTO HIS NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE, AND MAN BECAME A LIVING BEING.

P: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” Lowly Adam, formed from dust, yet blessed by You with Your image, O Lord.

C: WHAT IS MAN THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM, AND THE SON OF MAN THAT THOU DOST CARE FOR HIM.  YET THOU HAST MADE HIM A LITTLE LESS THAN GOD, AND DOST CROWN HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR.

P: Yet, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” for we have sinned against You, Lord God, and we deserve the curse of the dust:  “Cursed is the ground because of you, in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.”

C: THOU TURNEST MAN BACK TO THE DUST, AND SAYEST, “TURN BACK O CHILDREN OF MEN!”

All: THE LENTEN SEASON IS UPON US ONCE AGAIN, O LORD GOD, AND WE COME TO YOU WITH THE SIGN OF ASHES, THE SIGN OF WHAT WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN.  WITH REPENTANT HEARTS, WE COME TO YOU, BEGGING YOU FOR FORGIVENESS AND LIFE, FOR MORE THAN THE SIGN OF “ASHES TO ASHES AND DUST TO DUST.”

P: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Him, because the Lord has anointed Him to bring good tidings to the afflicted, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

C: TO GRANT TO THOSE WHO MOURN IN ZION, TO GIVE THEM A GARLAND INSTEAD OF ASHES, THE OIL OF GLADNESS INSTEAD OF MOURNING, THE MANTLE OF PRAISE INSTEAD OF A FAINT SPIRIT.

P: For surely He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows:

C: YET WE ESTEEMED HIM STRICKEN, SMITTEN OF GOD, AND AFFLICTED.

P: But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our 

iniquities.

C: UPON HIM WAS THE CHASTISEMENT THAT MADE US WHOLE, AND WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.

P: All, like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way;

C: AND THE LORD HAS LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.

P: He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth:

C: LIKE A LAMB THAT IS LED TO THE SLAUGHTER, HOW LIKE A LAMB, THE VERY LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.

P: And like a sheep that before his shearers is dumb.

C: SO HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH.

P: By oppression and judgment, He was taken away; and for His generation who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living.

C: STRICKEN FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF MY PEOPLE.

P: And they made His grave with the wicked and with a rich man is His death;

C: ALTHOUGH HE HAD DONE NO VIOLENCE, AND THERE WAS NO DECEIT IN HIS MOUTH.

P: That is why Lent begins on Ash Wednesday with ashes of repentance.

C: AND WITH THE HOPE OF LIFE OUT OF THE ASHES.

P: With the Lord Jesus in His suffering, humiliation, agony, and bloody sweat;

C: AND AT A CROSS WHERE HE TOOK OUR SINS UPON HIMSELF.

All: THAT GREAT EXCHANGE—GOD’S MERCY AND FORGIVENESS PURCHASED AT THE COST OF HIS OWN SON!  FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.  AMEN.

The Choir “Just as I am Lord”

The Passion Reading

The Sermon Hymn & Homily LSB #440 vs.5

Luke 18:31-34
If my sins give me alarm
            And my conscience grieve me,
Let Your cross my fear disarm;
     Peace of conscience give me.
Help me see forgiveness won
     By Your holy passion.
If for me He slays His Son,
      God must have compassion!
   
The Gathering of the Lenten Offering

The Confession and Absolution

The Ash Wednesday Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus’ Words of Institution

The Distribution

The Distribution Hymns

“Love Divine All Loves Excelling” LSB #700
“Jesus Sinners Doth Receive” LSB #609
“A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth” LSB #438

The Post-Communion Collect

Luther’s Evening Prayer

The Benediction

The Closing Hymn LSB #878, vv. 1, 2, 8
“Abide with Me!  Fast Falls the Eventide”
                     

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

As we remember Ash Wednesday today, think about two important points, which this ceremony teaches us—first, our need of a Savior, and, second, the cross on which Jesus died to take away our sins.  

Images copyright © Google images,  Ed Riojas Higher Things