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ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD
Scripture Readings
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is Light.”
Silent reflection
Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Silent reflection
Hymn
“Shepherd Me, O God”
TFWS #2058
Bill Crow, Nancy Burns, & Mark Johnson, soloists on verses
(in-person service only)
Luke 9:23-24 (NIV)
Then he said to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves?
Silent reflection
Luke 9:23-24 (The Message)
Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?
Silent reflection
Hymn
“Bless the Lord”
TFWS #2013 (5x)
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God,… Open our eyes to see injustice in our world.
Give us courage to resist the powers that oppress the poor.
Open our ears to hear the cry of the needy.
Teach us generosity for sharing the abundance of your creation.
Open our minds to imagine an end to human strife.
Grant us wisdom to pursue the ways of peace.
Open our hearts to love our neighbors and our enemies near and far.
Give us desire to embody the compassion of Christ.
In the name of Christ we pray, AMEN
(Adapted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C, edited by Kimberly Bracken Long)
Message
“Dying to Live: The Way of the Cross”
Pastor Jinyong Choi
Anthem
“While We Pray”
Adult Choir
By Susan Bentall Boersma & David Lantz III
Based on 1 Thessalonians 5:17
(in-person service only)
“Call to Lent”
Adult Choir
Adapted by J. Jerome Williams
(online service only)
Thanksgiving over the Ashes
God of dust and ash, you fashioned us from the dust of the earth, and to dust we shall return. May the ashes from last year’s palms that we place on our foreheads this day remind us of who we are and whose we are. Draw us back to you, O God, for you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Heal the hardness of our hearts, that we may be faithful disciples of the one who makes all things new. Amen.
Imposition of Ashes
“Sanctuary”
TFWS #2164
(Sing until everyone has received ashes)
(Place your offering on the plate as you kneel for the imposition of ashes.)
Declaration of Forgiveness adapted from Rev. Rachel Morse
Our God is ever-merciful. In infinite grace, God made us and called us good. We are good. In infinite compassion, God gave us Christ, who said, “You are good.” We are good. We are already forgiven, even before we asked. Receive and accept the forgiveness of God through the grace of Jesus the Christ.
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