Prayer for the Journey
Ash Wednesday Prayer Service

Preparation of the Sanctuary for Lent

Prominently display a cross draped in purple. Netting works very well and is easy to use. Purple is chosen as the color of passion and Jesus’ lordship. The purple drape should be replaced on Good Friday with a black drape and for the Easter celebration with a white drape.

Ash Wednesday Worship Setting

Place several large hand- or wheel- thrown pots and bowls near the cross. Include a potter’s wheel, if available, or display a slab of terra-cotta or other clay and a partially hand-built pot. Clay is easily found at a craft store. Include a plate of ashes visible from the congregation. Because the service is held in the evening, using candles can be very effective and symbolize the fire that creates ashes as it refines our physical life to ashes.

Call to the Community

Prelude

Use a flute, violin, clarinet, or oboe for soft meditation music.

Scripture Call: Psalm 51:1–3, 10–12

*Hymns of Preparation
          "Lay Your Hands" 
          "As the Deer"  

*Invocation

NS 27
NS 2

*Congregational Response: "Come, Holy Spirit, Come" 

NS 6

We Are Dust; We Are Stardust

Theme Thoughts: Ash Wednesday and Lent.

See introductory materials above, "What Is Lent?" We are dust because we are made of the basic elements of earth, and earth is made from the explosion of the first star at the beginning of time. God’s creation is both dust/physical and stardust/spiritual. We must understand that the physical life does not replace the spiritual life, but in fact is the vehicle for spirit and meaningless without that affirmation.

Scripture: Genesis 2:4–7

 Hymn: "Breathe on Me, Breath of God" 
OR "Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayer" 

HS 179
HS 288

Guided Meditation

From the back or balcony, very gently strike a small gong or resonant bell before each pause.

Strike gong/pause
From dust you were formed.
God fashioned you and breathed life into you.
God breathes life into you now.
Sense your breathing and the presence of God filling you.

Strike gong/pause
Sense a deep longing to experience God’s presence.

Strike gong/pause
Tonight we remember Jesus.
We have come willing to journey into the wilderness with Jesus,
seeking the truth about ourselves,
humbly preparing for renewal of our discipleship,
committing ourselves again as disciples of Jesus.

Strike gong/pause
Examine your heart.
Examine your behavior.
Examine your commitment.
Are you willing to prepare your life for acceptable service?
As a person cleans house to prepare for an honored guest,
now create a clean heart and renew your spirit to welcome God’s presence.

Strike gong/pause
Breathe in me, breath of God.
Breathe in me your new life.

Fashioning a New Vessel

Hymn "O Christ, My Lord, Create in Me" 
OR "Creator God, Creating Still" 

HS 174
HS 190

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 18:1–6

Theme Thoughts

We are the raw material, God’s dust, from which God may fashion a vessel worthy of the presence of the spirit. What are the materials of this life that God calls us to consecrate? We are called to give alms. What can we give?

Ministry of Music: "Hosea" by soloist  
OR Hymn: "Where Wilt Thou Put Thy Trust?" 

NS 15
HS 148

Prayers for the Journey

Invite the congregation to offer prayers for the journey: in confession, expressing longing for God, for courage, and for discipleship. The prayers may be interspersed with congregational singing. Some suggestions include the following:

"Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive" 
"Humble Yourself" 
"Jesus" 

HS 108
NS 17
NS 22

Sent On Our Journey

Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 5:16–23

*Hymn "Lord Jesus, of You I Will Sing"
OR "Let Us Breathe One Fervent Prayer" 

*Prayer of Blessing

*Response

*Sending Forth: "What to do in the darkness" see Lenten poem above

*Postlude

  SP 31
HS 482