Ash Wednesday, 2018
This Wednesday at 6:30am and 12pm, we’ll have Ash Wednesday services at Park Church to mark the beginning of the season of Lent. As explained in The Worship Sourcebook, “Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate Good Friday and Easter. Just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives, such as a wedding or commencement, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.” Ash Wednesday inagurates this season through singing, prayer, and the symbolic imposition of ashes with the spoken, biblical reminder, “From dust you came, to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19). Here’s how you can prepare for this service:
1. Read through our text, Ecclesiastes 7:1–4.
Often, Lent is observed as a time of self-reflection, repentance, and an honest look at our mortality and need for a Savior. This is where Solomon brings us in Ecclesiastes 7—the inevitable “end of all mankind” and the ignorance of denying its reality. A sober look at our post-fall world and post-fall selves makes us quick to say, “all I have is Christ.”
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 90:1–4, 12–17
All Creatures Of Our God And King (William Henry Draper, St. Francis of Assisi)
Come Ye Sinners (Joseph Hart)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From The Worship Sourcebook
Lord God, it is hard to think that we will die someday.
We dream, make plans, and talk about what we’ll do in the near future.
We don’t always think about what you want.
Instead, we make choices that we think are good for us.
But we are only here because you take care of us.
We confess that we forget we need you all the time.
We confess that sometimes we make choices that aren’t what you want.
We don’t know what is best for our lives.
Holy God, we are sorry for our sin.
Help us to remember we live because of you.
Help us to do what you want us to do
through Jesus, our Lord.
Amen.
Yet Even Now (Joel Limpic)
Lord I Need You (Carson, Maher, Nockels, Reeves, Stanfill)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Romans 8:35–39
HOMILY
COMMUNION & IMPOSITION OF ASHES:
Christ The Sure And Steady Anchor (Matt Boswell, Matt Papa)
Man Of Sorrows (Matt Crocker, Brooke Ligertwood)