Ash Wednesday 2022

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Service of Worship

Abajo BWV 974
JS Bach
Public Domain

Opening Prayer

Holy One, Merciful God, make yourself known to us. Be present with us in this often troubled journey of life. Create in us hearts that are open to transformation. Give us the patience of practice in this Lent season–ordering our days with time enough for you. Amen.

Opening Hymn — #451 Be Thou My Vision

1. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

2. Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and Thou with me, Lord;
thou and thou only, first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.

3. Great God of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys,
O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be vision, O Ruler of all.

Be Thou My Vision (Slane)
Carlton Raymond Young | Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne | United Methodist Publishing House
© Words: 1964, 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
© Music: 1964 Abingdon Press
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Reflective Moment | Silent Reflection | Words of Assurance

Response
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Glory to God! Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE (no contact)

Scripture Reading — Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (NRSV)

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. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so 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. 6 But 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.a

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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so 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; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Response:
A Word of God that is still speaking,
Thanks be to God.

Homily — Pastor Stacy Dickson
Cause and Effect

Receiving the Ashes

Special Music (recording) — Dust I Am

Dust I Am
Lindy Thompson | Mark Miller
© 2000 Hinshaw Music | Fred Brock
Used by Permission. CCLI # 656051.

Blessing Before the Fast

Closing Hymn — #399 Take My Life and Let It Be

1. Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord to thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.

2. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose.

3. Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

Take My Life And Let It Be (Messiah)
Frances Ridley Havergal | George Kingsley | Louis J. F. Herald
Public Domain

Benediction

Postlude – Megumi

Nocturn
FF Chopin
Public Domain

For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.