March 5 — Ash Wednesday (1 p.m.)

Welcome to Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ. Ash Wednesday begins the Season of Lent, which is a 40-day spiritual journey to Resurrection Day.

SILENT REFLECTION — Christ, My Every Need — #425

Lord, Jesus Christ
You are for me medicine when I am sick;
You are my strength when I need help;
You are life itself when I fear death;
You are the way when I long for heaven;
You are the light when all is dark;
You are my food when I need nourishment.

PRELUDE — Pastorale (first movement) — J. S. Bach

*CALL TO WORSHIP — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
One: “Now” says the Holy One, “return to me with all your heart.”
All: Be still; and know that I am God.
One: Turn away from evil; and return to your God.
All: God is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in
steadfast love. Let us worship God.

*HYMN — Draw Me Nearer — #412

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine. [Refrain]

Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend! [Refrain]

There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee. [Refrain]

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell
Holy One, have mercy upon us, according to your faithful love. Create within us a new heart; a heart for love, justice and righteousness. Replace any guilt with your promise of new life abounding in mercy and grace!
Come, Holy Spirit, be our companion in the choices we make and in the ways that we interact with one another. Let honesty, humility and kindness characterize our being. Holy One, you transform earthly dust into something marvelous! Let us honor you by living our days in community with you and with all creation. Renew us, O God. Amen.

GOD’S WORD — Psalm 51:1-17 — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

CALL TO CONFESSION and PRAYER OF CONFESSION
One: Holy God, Maker of all
All: Jesus Christ, Savior of all.
One: Holy Spirit, breath of life.
All: Have mercy on us. Let us confess our sins.
One: Let us prayer together.
All: God of wisdom and grace; you are acquainted with all our ways. As we take this first step on a crucial Lenten spiritual journey, we turn to you in prayer. Come, O Holy Spirit; in your cleansing power, breathe on us and fill us with life anew. God of forgiveness, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word, and action. We confess that we have failed to live by your Gospel of goodness and grace. Forgive us, we pray. From now on, as sinners pardoned and cleansed by you, Jesus; may we faithfully follow in your footsteps of love and compassion. This we pray in your holy name. Amen.

SILENCE — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*RESPONSE — Change My Heart, O God — Ivy Worship Booklet p. 33

Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.

You are the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.

Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.

GOD’S WORD — Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

HOMILY — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

*HYMN — Let Us Break Bread Together — #265

Let us break bread together on our knees.
Let us break bread together on our knees.

Refrain:
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees.
Let us drink wine together on our knees. [Refrain]

Let us praise God together on our knees.
Let us praise God together on our knees. [Refrain]

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts… debtors)

*HYMN — I Want Jesus to Walk with Me — #480

I want Jesus to walk with me.
I want Jesus to walk with me.
All along my pilgrim journey,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
When my heart is almost breaking,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me.
When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me.
When my head is bowed in sorrow,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

*BENEDICTION — Rev. Dr. Carol Trissell

*POSTLUDE — Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross — arr. Raluca Bojor