Gathering Music
Reading from Joel 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— a 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. Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend 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. Who 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? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather 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. Between 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?” ’
Welcome and Call to Worship
Poetry Reading On My Way by Rev. Sarah Speed; Jennifer Melton, Reader
Sermon Full of It Rev. Kent Gilbert
Prayer of Confession
Psalm 51
Grant me grace, God, as befits Your kindness, with Your great mercy wipe away my crimes.
Thoroughly wash my transgressions away and cleanse me from my offense. For my crimes I know, and my offense is before me always. You alone have I offended, and what is evil in Your eyes I have done. So You are just when You sentence, You are right when You judge. Look, in transgression was I conceived, and in offense my mother spawned me. Look, You desired truth in what is hidden; in what is concealed make wisdom known to me. Purify me with a hyssop, that I be clean. Wash me, that I be whiter than snow. Let me hear gladness and joy, let the bones that You crushed exult. Avert Your face from my offenses, and all my misdeeds wipe away. A pure heart create for me, God, and a firm spirit renew within me. Do not fling me from Your presence, and Your holy spirit take not from me. Give me back the gladness of Your rescue and with a noble spirit sustain me. Let me teach transgressors Your ways, and offenders will come back to You. Save me from bloodshed, O God, God of my rescue. Let my tongue sing out Your bounty. O Master, open my lips, that my mouth may tell Your praise.
Making the Way with Ashes
The ashes of last year’s Palm Sunday fronds were burnt and prepared for use on Ash Wednesday. The ashes, symbolizing sin and distance from God and our best selves, are mixed with oil, a sign of God’s blessing, forgiveness and anointing for special purpose. We begin our Lenten journey in humility and in hope by placing the ashes and oil on our heads or hands. You do not have to be a member of this church, or any church, to mark this sacred time and journey.
Kyrie Kyrie Eleyson Kyiv Chamber Choir
Loving Creator, we are here, telling stories of dust. We are here, trying to shake the dust out of our ears so that we might hear you clearly. We are here, hoping that showing up is the first step in returning to you. Scoop us up in your embrace and carry us to a place of truth. Clear the smog that makes it hard to see. Clear the dust that makes it hard to hear. We are at the edge of our seats. We are listening for you. Kyrie Eleison. Lord have mercy.
Affirmation of Faith
Benediction
Postlude
Credits
The Ash Wednesday service was adapted from liturgy materials by Rev. Sarah A. Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org. Used by Permission.
Kyrie Eleyson- Ukrainian Orthodox Chant of the XV Century by Kyiv Chamber Choir is Royalty Free
A “Full To The Brim” Lenten Devotional from Union Church with Art, Poetry, Scripture and Reflections is available for download at https://union-church.org/news/lent-2022-reflections-resources/ Use the password “2022UNIONLENT”
Production Credits: Kent Gilbert, Pastor
Jennifer Melton, Chair of the Worship Board
Don Cardwell, Videographer
Rina Tanaka, Production Manager
Dr. Bernardo Scarambone, Musician
Marty Hensley, Broadcast Technician
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