Ash wednesday service

Fruitland United Methodist Church
February 14, 2024
Ash Wednesday
​
Welcoming the Light of Christ and inviting the neighborhood to worship

-Preparing our hearts and souls for worship-
Welcome - Pastor Clynton

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.

Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
God's mercy endures forever.

Ash Wednesday Prayer UMH# 353

Let Us Pray,
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create and make in us new and caring hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

*Responsive Reading
Psalm 51: 1-17 UMH# 785

Scripture Reading
Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17 Pew Bible Page 1414-15

People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a Holy lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.

*Hymn
“Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” UMH# 269

Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth. Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Please come forward to receive your ashes

Once you have received your ashes, you may stay as you wish to pray.

Thank you for worshiping with us today!