February 22, 2023

St. Paul United Church of Christ, Taylor, Michigan
Ash Wednesday - 22 February 2023, 7:30 p.m.

Silent Prayer and Reflection

Is my faith on the surface or in my heart?

Ringing of the Bell

Welcome Rev. George Reed

Prelude John Joanette, pianist

Call to Worship:  Tim Ruffner

One: Let us look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,

All: who for the joy that was waiting endured the cross.

One: Jesus came to preach good news to the poor,

All: to proclaim release to the captives

 One: and recovery of sight to the blind,

 All: to liberate those who are oppressed,

One: and to proclaim the year of God's favor.

All: Blessed be the Name of Jesus.

*Hymn No. 572 “Take Time to Be Holy”

First Lesson: 2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10  Lector:  Tim Ruffner

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Message: “Now Is the Time”

Anthem “Above All,”  Chancel Choir, Tracy Hoffman, Music Director

Call to Confession of Sins

One: Let us pray:

All: Most holy and merciful God: We confess to you and to one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on

earth, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

One: We have not loved you with all our heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.

All: Have mercy on us, O God.

One: We have been deaf to your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.

All: Have mercy on us, O God.

One: We confess to you, O God, all our past unfaithfulness. The pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives,

All: We confess to you, O God.

One: Our self-indulgent appetites and ways and our exploitation of other people,

All: We confess to you, O God.

One: Our anger at our own frustration and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,

All: We confess to you, O God.

One: Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts and our dishonesty in our daily life and work,

All: We confess to you, O God.

One: Our negligence in prayer and worship and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,

All: We confess to you, O God.

One: Accept our repentance, O God, for the wrongs we have done. For our neglect of human need and suffering and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,

All: Accept our repentance, O God.

One: For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,

All: Accept our repentance, O God.

 One: For our waste and pollution of your creation and our lack of concern for those who come after us,   

All: Accept our repentance, O God.

One: Restore us, O God, and let your anger depart from us.

All: Favorably hear us, O God, for your mercy is great. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer (debts, debtors)

The Passing of the Peace:

One: The peace of Christ be with you.

All: And also with you.

The Imposition of Ashes
The ushers will invite you to come forward to receive the sign of the cross drawn in ashes on your forehead.

*Dismissal with Blessing

Depart in Silence

________________

---