Ash Wednesday

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

Ash

Wednesday

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. In the opening epic of the human story found in the Bible, God says: "You are dust and to dust you shall return" (Gen 3:19). In the tenth century the use of ashes was employed to visibly remind worshipers of their mortality as they began their Lenten journey to the foot of the Cross. Question #88 of the Heidelberg Catechism asks "How many parts are there to the true repentance? The answer is "Two: The dying of the old self and the coming to life of the new."

Our Lenten journey invites us to acknowledge our need for repentance,

and for the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Order of Worship for Ash Wednesday

March 1, 2006 Hall of Crosses 6:30 p.m.

OPENING SENTENCES

PRAYER

O God the Father, creator of heaven and earth,
    Have mercy on us.
O God the Son, redeemer of the world
    Have mercy on us.
O God the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide,
    Have mercy on us.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God,
    Have mercy on us.

Loving God,

whose glory it is always to have mercy:

Be gracious to us who have gone astray from your ways,

and bring us again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith

to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word,

Jesus Christ your Son.

HYMN

Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou biddest me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fighting and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

INVITATION TO OBSERVE A LENTEN DISCIPLINE

PSALM 51 (selected verses)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love;

According to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against You, You alone, have I sinned,

    and done what is evil in your sight.

You desire truth in the inward being;

    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

    and put a new and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

    and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

    and sustain in me a generous spirit.

IMPOSITION OF ASHES

Unison Prayer

Almighty God,
You have created us out of the dust of the earth.
May these ashes be a sign of our mortality and penitence.
Grant that the awareness of our mortality may lead us not to fear, but instead may lead us to faith.
In our weakness, teach us to look to you for strength.
In our failures, teach us to turn to you and find forgiveness.
In our dying, teach us to await the gift of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When you wish, and if you wish, you may come forward to receive the ashes in the form of a cross on your forehead. As you come, remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return, but the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.

PRAYER

HYMN

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown has broken every barrier down;

Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

CHARGE AND BLESSING

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