Ash Wednesday Service, Feb 22, 2012 7pm
Ash Wednesday
Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist, Rite I
February 22, 2012, 7pm
Priest-in-Charge: The Rev. Catherine D. Hicks
As you enter this sacred space that has been set aside for time with God, join us in silence as we go to God in prayer.
Processional Hymn God Himself is with Us H 475
Salutation
Ash Wednesday Collect BCP 264
Old Testament Reading Joel 2:1-2,12-17
Psalm Psalm 103 BCP 733
Epistle 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
Sequence Hymn O Day of God Draw Nigh H 601
The Gospel Matthew 6:1-6,16-21
The Sermon The Rev. Catherine D. Hicks
Invitation to the Observance of a Holy Lent BCP 264
Silence
Imposition of Ashes BCP 265
Psalm 51, said together BCP 266
Litany of Penance BCP 267
The Peace
Offertory The Glory of These Forty Days
Nancy Long, soloist
The Holy Communion
Eucharistic Prayer I BCP 333
Sanctus S 130
The Lord’s Prayer BCP 336
The Breaking of the Bread BCP 337
Fraction Anthem Jesus, Lamb of God S 164
The Communion of the People of God
Communion Hymn Before thy Throne, O God H 574
Post-Communion Prayer BCP 339
The Solemn Prayer over the People
Bow down before the Lord. Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing Hymn Gracious Spirit, Give your Servants WLP 782
Dismissal
Announcements
Welcome to St Peter’s! Our hope is that you will find God’s love present with you in this place and that you will return here often to worship.
Christian Ed classes for children meet at 10AM in the Parish House. The curriculum is “Living the Good News”, based on the Lectionary.
During Lent, the adults at 10AM will be studying God and the Mystery of Human Suffering, a recently published book by Robert Ryan. We will explore this complex subject through a discussion of scriptural and theological wrestling with suffering.
We have a book group beginning Feb. 29th reading Power and Passion, spotlighting 6 characters surrounding the Resurrection – Pontius Pilate, Barabbas, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Peter and Mary Magdalene. The book demonstrates the significance of these characters for faith and life today. See Elizabeth Heimbach if you would like to get a copy of the book.
-------------------------------------This Week ------------------------------------
· Fri., Feb. 24, 7:30am – Holy Eucharist and Litany of Healing. Bread making afterwards
-------------------------------------Next Week -----------------------------------
· Sun., Feb. 26, 9:00am – Morning Prayer, Rite I
· Sun., Feb. 26, 10:00am – Adult Ed. God and the Mystery of Human Suffering
· Sun., Feb. 26, 11:00am – The Great Litany and Holy Eucharist, Rite I
· Wed., Feb. 29, 10am – Midweek Bible Study
· Wed., Feb. 29, 4:45pm-6:00pm – Children’s Choir.
· Wed., Feb. 29, 7:00pm – Book Group Power and Passion preceded by light supper at 6:15pm
· Fri., Mar. 2, 7:30am – Holy Eucharist and Litany of Healing. Bread making afterwards
Lent-- A Season of Repentance and Renewal
During Lent, we empty our worship space of the usual visual images in order to create simplicity, and as Patrick Malloy puts it, “to foster an interior openness in the assembly and a longing for the glory of God.”
The use of a special processional cross is appropriate. During medieval times in England, Lenten processional crosses were made of wood, and were painted a deep red. Thanks to the craftsmanship of Helmut Linne von Berg, St Peter’s has its own Lenten processional cross, which we will be using during this season.
The ashes that we receive on our foreheads tonight remind us of our mortality. In the burial rite, we commit those who have died to the ground, ‘earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.’ We pray that the Lord will bless and keep those who have died, that the Lord will make his face shine upon them, will lift up his countenance upon them and will give them peace.
We receive the ashes as an outward sign of our penitence as we come before the loving-kindness of God, knowing that only God can take away our sins, create clean hearts in us, renew a right spirit within us, and sustain us with God’s bountiful spirit.
We receive the ashes as a reminder that we live in relation to every other part of God’s creation, and that even in death our relationships with creation and with the creator are being renewed, even as our bodies return to dust.
Ash Wednesday
Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion
February 22, 2012
ST. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Port Royal, VA