If you would like an elder to pray for you, simply kneel at the front steps off to the side. You are invited to come forward when ready to an elder in the center who will apply ashes to your forehead. But you are invited to take part in this embodied practice as a symbol of the reality of today’s words, prayers, and songs so that they might meaningfully take root in our hearts.
No one should feel compelled to come forward for the imposition of ashes out of guilt or a fear of judgment. Imposition of Ashes and Prayers for Healing This is the gospel of Christ: “The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). You are invited to kneel if you are able. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit (Psalm 51:1, 10–12). Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Holy Spirit of God, we open ourselves to your presence and your voice. Take us into your dying and into your resurrection. Lord Jesus Christ, show us again your great compassion, mercy, and love. We turn our faces to the cross, just as Jesus did. Most Holy God, be present with us as we begin this journey into Lent. Copyright © 20, The African American Pulpit Inc., owners of The African American Lectionary, all rights reserved. Lead us by your Spirit into a season of preparation and of growing faith. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matthew 3:16–4:1). At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.Īnd a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love with him I am well pleased.” “ I Need Thee Every Hour” Hawks, LUYH 322, GtG 735Īs soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. The Boonstra articles are available at and the Smit article at (search by author). My congregation at Covenant Life used portions of Reformed Worship articles by Boonstra and by Smit.
Because this is a new concept for many, it may be helpful to include an explanation about Ash Wednesday either in the printed bulletin or in a newsletter ahead of the service. Harry Boonstra, “ Why Ash Wednesday?” RW 6 & 30, adapted by Rev. Some traditions also have considered ash a purifying or cleansing agent” (Rev. In Scripture ashes (dust) symbolize frailty or death (Genesis 18:27), sadness or mourning (Esther 4:3), judgment (Lamentations 3:16), and repentance (Jonah 3:6). “Ashes have a long history in biblical and church traditions.
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