Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church

7 PM Worship Ash Wednesday 9 March 2011

GATHERING

GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all God’s benefits.

Who forgives all your sins

and heals all your infirmities;

Who redeems your life from the grave,

and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness.

*PRAYER in unison

Merciful God,

we come to you this evening realizing

that we are not how you want us to be.

Help us let go of our past,

that we may turn toward you and live again the life of faith.

Help us call out our fear and hatred, our anger and self-pity.

Lift the burden they place on our shoulders.

Help us set aside our guilt and enter a season of healing.

As we wear the mark of ashes,

rekindle the sign of hope within our eyes.

Let us draw near to you now. Amen.

*PRAYER RESPONSE FWS 2200

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me.

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me.

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.

GOSPEL READING

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON

Hypocritical

INVITATION TO THE OBSERVANCE OF LENTEN DISCIPLINE

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Christians have always observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s

passion and resurrection. It became the custom of the church to prepare for Easter

by a season of penitence, fasting, and prayer. This season of forty days provided

a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for baptism into the body of

Christ. It is also the time when persons who had committed serious sins and had

been separated from the community of faith were reconciled by penitence and

forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the church. The whole congregation

is thus reminded of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus

Christ and the need we all have to renew our baptismal faith.

I invite you, in the name of the Lord, to observe a holy Lent, by self-examination,

penitence, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; and by reading and meditating on the

Word of God. To make a right beginning, and as a mark of our mortality, let us

now bow our hearts before our Creator and Redeemer.

*IMPOSITION OF ASHES

Almighty God,

you have created us out of the dust of the earth;

Grant that these ashes may be to us

a sign of our mortality and penitence,

so we may remember that only by your gracious gift

are we given everlasting life;

through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION UMH 785

THE LORD’S PRAYER in unison

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into

temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and

the glory, forever. Amen.

*PRAYER RESPONSE FWS 2200

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me.

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me.

O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.

RECONCILIATION AND COMMENDATION

The almighty and merciful God,

Source of our salvation in Christ,

who desires not the death of a sinner

but rather that we turn from wickedness and live;

accept your repentance,

forgive your sins,

and restore you by the Holy Spirit to newness of life.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

Rejoicing in the fellowship of all the saints,

let us commend ourselves, one another,

and our whole life to Christ our Lord.

To you, O Lord. Amen.

*THE PEACE

OFFERING

*DOXOLOGY UMH 95

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

*HYMN UMH 269

Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days (verses 1, 3, 5) Land of Rest

*BENEDICTION

Go forth into the world in the strength of God’s mercy

to live and to serve in newness of life.

May the Lord God order all your days and deeds in peace.

Amen. Thanks be to God.

*Those who are able are invited to stand.