ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICE ~ Appropriate for Home Church or Small Group Gatherings ~ For Wednesday, March 5, 2025

 

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE—Wednesday, March 5, 2025

~ adapted By The Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ from services in the 1945 and 1979  Book of Common Prayer.  This service is suitable for use for small groups, home churches, or Christians whose churches do not officially observe Lent nor the Season of Repentance before The LORD’S Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection

Elder’s  Opening  Statement:

BLESSED BE GOD: FATHER, SON+ and HOLY SPIRIT

WORTHY is The LAMB+, our Great High Priest,

JESUS, the SON+ of GOD,

Who+ loved us and gave His+ Life for us.

Let  Us  Pray:

Almighty and Everlasting GOD, Who hatest nothing that THOU hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are repentant;

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of THEE, the GOD of All Mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness;

through Thy Beloved SON+, JESUS CHRIST our LORD, Who+ lives and reigns with THEE and the blessed HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, for ever and ever. Amen

ELDER’S  ADDRESS To the Congregation:

Dear People of GOD:

The Early Christians observed with great devotion the days of our LORD’S Passion and Resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of repentance and fasting  . . .

Each Serious Christian is invited, therefore, in the Name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST, to the observance of a Holy time of preparation , to enter into that Holy Season by self-examination in the Mirror of GOD’S Holy Word;

by Repentance, in spirit and in truth ;

by prayer, fasting , and self-denial of customary things that do ENTERTAIN instead of edify;

by a quiet and SOMBER demeanor in dress and deportment before the world and at home;

and to replace all unworthy activity with Quietness and a reflective reading of the Sacred Writ, The WORD of GOD;

Keeping in mind all the while,  the Price+ paid for your Redemption.

Let us kneel now, and make a right turning of repentance, confessing our sins, our many faults, and our weaknesses of the flesh,  to The LORD GOD, the Maker of Heaven and earth.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, GOD is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ^{1 John 1: 8-9}

After Time  for Personal  Refection and Repentance,

then all pray aloud Together or in a Responsive  Manner :

Most merciful LORD JESUS Who+ died for my sins, I confess that I have sinned against THEE+ in thought, word, and action,

• By what I have done . . . and by what I have left undone.
• I have not loved THEE+ with my whole heart; 
• I have not always loved my neighbor as myself; 
• I have often refused to turn the other cheek and go the second mile.
• At times, I have not controlled my spirit nor my tongue. I have not always submitted them to Thy Word.
• I have erred and strayed from Thy+ way like a lost sheep and followed too much the devices and desires of my own heart.

Truly, I am sorry and I humbly repent and turn from my wicked ways.

Have mercy upon me , O LORD, and create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me

That I may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life to the Glory of Thy+ Holy Name. Amen

The Elder’s Pronouncement of Absolution of Sins: 

Now To All who have truly repented of their sins and who with a sincere and honest heart intend to lead a new life dedicated to Our LORD  and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST:

May the Almighty and merciful LORD JESUS CHRIST grant  you an absolution and remission of all your sins washed clean in the Blood of The LAMB+ and grant you Grace to help in the amendment of life, and the consolation of The HOLY SPIRIT.  Amen.

The imposition of Sanctified Ashes

( Church ashes are oftentimes made from burning the palm leaves used in the Palm Sunday service of the previous year. In lieu of that, burning a small amount of plant leaves, offering a prayer to ask The LORD’s blessing upon the Ashes, will provide Sanctified Ashes for this service. Mix into the ashes a drop or two of Anointing Oil or Olive Oil, sanctifying The Oil & Ashes  by prayer. The Elder or Deacon dips his finger in the Oil and Ashes and makes the sign of the cross on his own forehead.   )

Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust in sure and certain Hope of the Resurrection unto Eternal Life, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

All come forward in an orderly manner to receive the Cross of Ashes upon the  forehead.

Elder’s Prayer:

Almighty GOD Who has created us out of the dust of the earth:  Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our HOPE of Everlasting Life through CHRIST JESUS our LORD,

Who+ , setting His+ Face to go to Jerusalem, met His+ Accusers . . . conquering  death for us all  through His+ Obedient Crucifixion, Victorious Death, and Glorious Resurrection.

*** Congregational Response: Blessed art THOU, O LORD, sanctify my life for Your Kingdom.

NOW let us pray together the prayer The LORD taught His+ Disciples, when they asked HIM+, “LORD, teach us how to pray.”

 Our FATHER which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Benediction     [ Jude 1:24-25 ] 

 ²⁴ Now unto HIM  that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of  HIS  glory with exceeding  joy,

²⁵ To the only wise GOD OUR SAVIOUR, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.