Call to Worship
Adapted from adapted from the United Church of Christ (Genesis 2:7; 3: 19 Psalm 104: 29-30; John 1: 18)
Friends and neighbors,
we pause during our week
to observe Ash Wednesday together
as a faith community.
We remember that God made us
from fragile, blessed dust
And breathes through us
the breath of life and love.
From dust we are created in God’s image
and to God’s good dust we shall return.
Today we begin our 40-day Lenten journey
to discover who we are created to be
as God’s beloved.
In daily practices of prayer and service
we will embark upon this Lenten journey.
So come, let us pray
for strength and imagination to follow Jesus
wherever He will lead us this Lent.
Amen.
Prayer
by John Paarlberg
Gracious God,
You created us out of the dust of the earth
and breathed into us the breath of life.
By Your hand we live and to Your hands we return
when all our days are done.
Grant that the awareness of our mortality
may lead us not to fear, but to faith.
In our weakness,
teach us to look to You for strength;
in our failures,
to turn to You and find forgiveness;
and in our dying,
to await the gift of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Worship Song
Lord, I Need You
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the One that guides my heart
Lord, I need You
Oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You
Jesus, You’re my hope and stay
Scripture Reading
John 12:23-24
To be read aloud together:
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Reflection
Ash Wednesday: Seeds Born of Fire
Pastor Dan So
Giant sequoias are the largest trees on Earth.
They can grow for more than 3,000 years.
But without fire, they cannot reproduce.
The giant sequoias really are born of fire.
A fire gives them 3 things they need for regeneration.
The first one is,
it punches a hole in the forest –
that allows there to be more light and more water
for the sequoia seedlings.The second thing it does is,
it heats the cones up in the mature sequoia trees,
without harming the trees and those cones open
and there’s a rain of seeds on the ground.And, the final thing it’s done is,
it’s cleared away all the leaves that have built up.
Because sequoia seeds need to hit bare mineral soil
before they can germinate, and survive well.Then the winter storms come
and bury them in a blanket of snow.
And then when the spring comes
they have the ideal conditions… its warmer… it’s really wet
and those seeds will take off and become seedlings.From their birth among the ashes,
From “Why the Giant Sequoia Needs Fire to Grow”
these seedlings have become the groves we see today,
with trees nearly 300 feet tall.
Reflection Questions:
- Everything in life that matters requires risk & sacrifice. What or who is so close to your heart that you’re willing to sacrifice for them?
- Could this Lent season create the necessary space in your life to let in more light or water?
- How can you open your heart to God & others over the next 6 weeks to allow the seeds of God’s dream to be scattered?
- Is there room for God’s dream to grow in your life? Are there “leaves” that have built up which need to be swept away?
- As you make space for quietness in your heart (through silence and/or coloring), what seeds are you planting today? At Eastertime, what’s a word or short phrase that captures the transformation or growth you hope to see happen?
Communion
Worship Song
Expectation
You redeem our past
You take what’s old and broken
You’re breathing in new life
Rhythms of Your grace
Moving us to freedom
From darkness into light
You will make all things new
You’ll bring Your kingdom here
We wait in expectation
We lift our eyes to You
Salvation’s drawing near
We wait in expectation
You have overcome
The troubles we are facing
You’re standing here with us
Oppression cannot win
And anxious thoughts are broken
By the pow’r of Jesus’ name
Benediction
from “An Ash Wednesday Liturgy” written by Tim Graves and posted on LiturgyBits.
Created from dust,
held together by God’s extravagant love,
Turn away from sin,
and leave today embracing God’s love.
Amen.
Anchor & Hope Church 