Joint Montreal-Lutheran Ash-Wednesday Service

Full Text of Service

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Full Text of the Service

What we call the beginning is often the end and to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. [T.S. Eliot]

Remember, human, that you are dust, and to dust you will return

GATHERING IN THE CHURCH: Silence

PSALM 51: sung by choir

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.
5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
19 then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Taken from: http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm

GREETING:
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY:
P Let us pray...

A brief silence is kept. Then the presiding minister prays the appointed prayer of the day. The assembly responds at the conclusion:

THE WORD:

FIRST READING: Joel 2: 1 2, 12 17

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near-- 2a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come.
12 Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. 14Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD, your God? 15Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. 17Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep. Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"
Taken from: http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm

The reading concludes:
Holy wisdom, holy word.
C Thanks be to God.

PSALM 103:8 14 51 : sung by choir

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
Taken from: http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm

SECOND READING:2 Corinthians 5:20b 6:10 (en français)

C'est au nom du Christ que nous vous en supplions: Soyez réconciliés avec Dieu. Celui qui était innocent de tout péché, Dieu l'a condamné comme un pécheur à notre place pour que,dans l'union avec le Christ, nous soyons justes aux yeux de Dieu.
Aussi, nous qui travaillons ensemble à cette tâche, nous vous invitons à ne pas laisser sans effet la grâce que vous avez reçue de Dieu.
En effet, Dieu déclare dans l'Ecriture:
Au moment favorable, j'ai répondu à ton appel, et au jour du salut, je suis venu à ton secours.
Or, c'est maintenant, le moment tout à fait favorable; c'est aujourd'hui, le jour du salut.
Pour que notre ministère soit sans reproche, nous évitons, en toute chose, de causer la chute de qui que ce soit. Et voici comment nous nous recommandons nous-mêmes en toutes choses comme serviteurs de Dieu: c'est en vivant avec une persévérance sans faille dans les détresses, les privations, les angoisses, dans les coups, les prisons, les émeutes, dans les fatigues, les veilles, les jeûnes. C'est par la pureté, par la connaissance, par la patience, par la bonté, par l'Esprit Saint, par l'amour sans feinte, par la Parole de vérité, par la puissance de Dieu. C'est par les armes de la justice, offensives ou défensives, qu'on nous honore ou qu'on nous méprise, que l'on dise de nous du mal ou du bien.
Et encore: on nous prend pour des imposteurs, mais nous disons la vérité, on nous prend pour des inconnus, et pourtant on nous connaît bien, on nous prend pour des mourants, et voici nous sommes toujours en vie, on nous prend pour des condamnés, mais nous ne sommes pas exécutés, on nous croit affligés, et nous sommes toujours joyeux, pauvres, et nous faisons beaucoup de riches, dépourvus de tout, alors que tout nous appartient.

Translation: We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At an accept¬able time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, im¬prisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, pa¬tience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute.

The reading concludes:
C'est la parole de Dieu.
C Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:
The assembly welcomes the gospel.
The following verse of the day is sung by the choir.
Return to the Lord, your God, who is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
P The Holy Gospel according to Matthew, the sixth chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.

1Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
5 ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you
16 .‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.f
19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;g 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.h 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

P The gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON: Rev. Samuel King-Kabu, Dust To Dust

HYMN OF THE DAY: OUT OF THE DEPTHS (Text and Melody by M. Luther)

Out of the depths I cry to you;
O Father, hear me calling.
Incline your ear to my distress
In spite of my rebelling.
Do not regard my sinful deeds.
Send me the grace my spirit needs;
Without it I am nothing.

2 (1) Des pro fon deurs je crie vers toi
Mon Dieu, en tends mon a ppel
ta saint' o reill' pen che vers moi
A ma pri è re ou vre toi
Et si tu veux con di dé rer,
Quel pé ché, quel mal est co mmis
Qui peut, Pèr', vers toi res ter ?

3 (2). Bei dir gilt nichts denn Gnad und Gunst,
die Sünde zu vergeben;
es ist doch unser Tun umsonst
auch in dem besten Leben.
Vor dir niemand sich rühmen kann,
des muß dich fürchten jeder¬mann
und deiner Gnade leben.

4. (2) All things you send are full of grace;
You crown our lives with favour.
All our good works are done in vain
Without our Lord and Saviour.
We praise the God who gives us faith
And saves us from the grip of death;
Our lives are in his keeping.

5 (3). It is in God that we shall hope,
And not in our own merit.
We rest our fears in his good Word
And trust his Holy Spirit.
His promise keeps us strong and sure;
We trust the holy signature
Inscribed upon our temples.

(Sing only one of the following verses)

6. (4) Estonian
Seepärast Sinu peale nüüd
Mu Jumal, mina loodan
Mu südames ei ole muud,
Kui et Sult abi ootan.
Mis Sinu sõna tõotab,
See minu hinge rõõmustab,
See peale olen julge!

or

6. (4) Latvian
Lai Vinš gan ilgi kavej?s,
ka man bus saukt un vaid?t,
ka Dievs reiz zeligs parad?s,
kas man tad vairs var kaitet?
Tas vien bus iestais Dieva b?rns
Kas iepriekš rugto malku dzers,
Vinš velak gardo baudies.

(Translation, do not sing:)
My Soul is waiting for the Lord
As one who longs for morning;
No watcher waits with greater hope
Than I for his returning.
I hope as Israel in the Lord;
He sends redemption through his Word.
We praise him for his mercy.

7 (5) Danish
Og er vort syndemål end stort,
dog større er Guds nåde,
hans stærke hånd, som alt har gjort,
kan vel os fri af våde;
han er den gode hyrde, som
sin hjord fra synd, fra død og dom
i nåde vil forløse.

8 (5). Though with us many sins abound,
With God is much more mercy;
His hand's assistance hath no end,
However great our wrong be.
He is alone our shepherd true,
Who Israel shall yet set free
Of all his sinful doings.

INVITATION TO THE LENTEN DISCIPLINE
Friends in Christ, every year at the time of our Lord Jesus Christ's passover from death to life, with the church through¬out the world . . .

CONFESSION OF SIN
P Let us kneel/stand before God, our creator and redeemer, and confess our sin.
The people keep silence for self examination.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
P Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
C have mercy on us.
P For boundless love of self,
and for failing to walk with humility and gentleness:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
C have mercy on us.
P For longing to have what is not ours,
and for hearts that are not at rest with ourselves:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
C have mercy on us.
P For misuse of human relationships,
and for unwillingness to see the image of God in others:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
C have mercy on us.
P For jealousies that divide families and nations,
and for rivalries that create strife and warfare:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
C have mercy on us.
P For inequity in sharing the gifts of God,
and for carelessness with the fruits of creation:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
C have mercy on us.
P For hurtful words that condemn
and angry deeds that harm:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
C have mercy on us.
P For idleness in witnessing to Jesus Christ,
and for squandering the gifts of love and grace:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal,
C have mercy on us.

The presiding minister says the following prayer over the ashes that will be used:
P Almighty God,
you have created us out of the dust of the earth.
Bless these ashes and those who receive them.
May this sign of our mortality and penitence
remind us that only by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
are we given eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
C Amen

Imposition of Ashes
Those who desire to mark their contrition with a cross of ashes come forward and kneel at the altar. Ministers mark the forehead of each person with ashes, using the following words:

Remember that you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.

P Accomplish in us, O God, the work of your salvation,
C that we may show forth your glory in the world.
P By the cross and passion of your Son, our Saviour,
C bring us with all your saints to the joy of Christ's resurrection.
The presiding minister stands and addresses the congregation:
P Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ,
strengthen us in all goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.
C Amen.

PRAYERS: Response: Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer

PEACE: The Presider invites all to share the peace

OFFERING: The gifts of money, bread, and wine are brought forward.

OFFERTORY PRAYER
A Let us pray. Merciful Father...
C we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you ahve first given us –our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GREAT THANKSGIVING

OPENING DIALOGUE
P The Lord be with you.
C and also with you.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give our thanks and praise.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
P We give you thanks, our gracious and merciful God . . .

After the Words of Institution
Praise to you, Lord Jesus, firstborn from the dead!
C: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
P Send now your Spirit, O God,
upon these humble gifts and into . . .
...Confident of his good gift to us in this meal,
we pray to you in his good name, in Jesus' name.
C Amen.
P Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us:
C Our Father who art . . .

BREAKING OF THE BREAD
P God has prepared a table before you.
Goodness and mercy are yours this day.
C Thanks be to God.

COMMUNION

Post-communion Prayer
A Let us pray.
We bless you, O God, for the ....
... in the name of Christ, our redeemer.
C Amen.

BENEDICTION
P Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless you know and forever.
C Amen.

DISMISSAL
A Go in peace. Remember pray, fasting, and almsgiving.
C Thanks be to God.

The ministers leave in silence. There is no postlude. The congregation remains quiet in the worship space for reflection and prayer.

A PRAYER OF BLESSING:
Merciful God,
you called us forth from the dust of the earth; you claimed us for Christ in the waters of baptism.
Look upon us as we enter these Forty Days
bearing the mark of ashes,
and bless our journey through the desert of Lent to the font of rebirth.
May our fasting be hunger for justice;
our alms, a making of peace;
our prayer, the chant of humble and grateful hearts.
All that we do and pray is in the name of Jesus,
for in his cross you proclaim your love for ever and ever.
–Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers