Ash Wednesday March 5, 2014

Theme: The Cross....The Intersection of Our Struggle and God's Redemption
AV Tech Notes: We will be using at least three readers besides Revs. Mark & Lisa. We will use the pulpit mic for these readers. We will also be using a slideshow. Lorenia and Rhea are doing a vocal duet and will need a mic. Ben Bardgett will be playing music on guitar and may use the same vocal mic as the duet. Details are still being worked out.
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-11
         Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. ² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Order of Worship:

We Gather to Worship

Prelude 
Call to Worship
Hymn of Gathering: Blue #63 Open the Eyes of My Heart
Invocation

We Hear the Word of God

Setting the Scene                                                                        Revs. Mark & Lisa

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:1-11                                           Rev. Mark, Caden & Cole Underwood

   Rev. Mark:

   Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his    

   mouth and taught them, saying:

Reader 1:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Reader 2:

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Reader 1:

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Reader 2:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Reader 1:

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Reader 2:

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Reader 1:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Reader 2:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Reader 1:

Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Reader 2:

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We Reflect and Meditate on God's Presence

Guided Meditation with Music    "Finding Ourselves in the Beatitudes"

        Art and Thoughts from the Around the Table Sunday School Class

         "Broken Hallelujah"  comp. by Cohen, performed by Ben Bardgett

We Confess and Pray Together

Call to Confession

Litany Prayer of Confession    

God, you give us new hearts and you place a new spirit within us.

Take our stony hearts and giving us flexible, strong, beating hearts. (Ezekiel 36:26)

A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Even now, God, you are calling us back to you.

With regret, and tears, and repentance, we return to you (Joel 2:12)

A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

God, you give us hearts to understand and know you more fully. 

We want to be your people. You will always be our God,

as we return to you with our whole hearts.  (Jeremiah 24:7)

A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

We hear your voice today, Holy God,

we hear you now. Soften our hearts and make them open to your correction, to the changes you have for us. (Psalms 95:7-8)

A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

                                                    

Assurance of Pardon 

Musical Offering: "Blest Are the Pure in Heart"                 arr. Havergal 

                    Duet: Rhea Finniseth, Lorenia Moore

We Receive the Ashes

The Purpose & Meaning of the Ashes and the Water
           Musical Meditation

           The Imposition of the Ashes

           Remembrance of Baptism

We Enter Lent

Challenge to Discipleship                                                                         Unison

Leader: As Lent begins, we start with a clean slate, our hearts fresh and clean. Let us challenge ourselves and each other to forty days of new growth, a springtime blossoming of our hearts in the growing light and warmth of God's grace.

People: In these forty days, we will open up to this springtime in our hearts. We trust God. We can accept the changes God wants for us. We will step out the door and onto the road where Jesus Christ is leading us. We will embrace each other and lift each other up. We will move forward, never alone. We move forward with God.

Hymn of Faith: Red # 379 Take My Life and Let It Be  1, 5, & 6

We Depart in Peace

Benediction

Postlude