Welcome to Ash Wednesday. Due to Covid, and in an effort to provide you a safe and impactful experience, We are delighted to bring you this modified and simplified Ash Wednesday worship–from your car as you drive through our parking lot. It is important to recognize that this is not fast food. This is not Jesus as we order Him from a menu and expectant delivery of our desires. In this worship experience, we seek to be safe and provide a meaningful encounter with the holy One. As such, I invite you to enter into this experience much the way we do on a typical Ash Wednesday. With solemnity, reverence, and intentionality. Ash Wednesday is our entrance into Lent. Into a time of renewed focus on our spiritual well being. And so, we come to this moment seeking, again, the hand of God, to lead us on our journey to Christ’s Cross.
We Begin This Encounter In The Spirit of Confession
Psalm 51
As you arrive in our parking lot, I invite you to enter into a worship focused mindset. Listen to Psalm 51–a powerful psalm of confession. Hear the words, and prepare your own hearts. Pull off and park somewhere in the lot to listen. When you are finished, join the line for the next element of our worship.
Be sure to take a moment to process, reflect, and pray through your confession. Ash Wednesday is a day when we see our mortality face to face. Remember this. Satan knows your name but calls you by your sin. Jesus knows your sin but calls you by your name. As such, let us come to the one who calls us by name and forgives us from the things that we, too often, believe define who we are–our broken and sinfulness.
The Imposition of Ashes
After listening to and reflecting on Psalm 51, you are invited to make your way towards the Porte Cochere. Here you have the option to receive the imposition of Ashes placed in the form of cross on your forehead. I invite you to follow along with these words:
P: As children of a fallen humanity, each of us shares in the consequences of human sin. In the words that the Lord first spoke to Adam, he now reminds us all: “By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19)
Therefore, face-to-face, in the presence of God, we offer our confession
C: Cast us not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from us. Give us the joy of your saving help again, and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit. Amen.
Said as the Ash is traced on your forehead: Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.
C: Amen
Communion
The Words of Institution
The Lord’s Prayer
A Final Benediction
As you travel home, may you do so with a continued reverence for our Lord Jesus. He comes to us in many and various ways. And He goes with you as you return to your homes. Thank you for worshiping with us in this unique way.
Finally, I encourage you to join us on our livestream worship to continue to celebrate the gift we have received in Jesus. And to continue in our work together as Prince of Peace.
Morning Cup Emails
Have a scripture and reflection arrive in your inbox throughout the season of Lent. Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday a shot of scripture will help you on this journey to the Cross. Short and quick–but the impact is deep and significant. Walk closer with Jesus.
And join us on Wednesdays as Pastor Scott shares a teaching on our livestream. Instead of our typical mid-week worship, this teaching video will be an opportunity for you to further grow in obedience to Jesus. “Fear and Hope: Faith for these Days”
