Ash Wednesday - Online Worship - February 17, 2021

vs. 1
I want Jesus to walk with me;
I want Jesus to walk with me;
All along my pilgrim journey,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight so that you are justified in judging me and condemning me.

The Lord is merciful and gracious; slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor avenge us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Spare my life, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud the praise of deliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise. For you have no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

vs. 2
In my trials, Lord, walk with me;
In my trials, Lord, walk with me;
When my heart is almost breaking,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness in you, and you should be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plenteous redemption, for God will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

vs. 3
When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me;
When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me;
When my head is bowed in sorrow,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

Almighty, ever-living God, you hate nothing you have made, you forgive the sins of all who ask for forgiveness, and you pray for our faith to be renewed. Create in us new and honest hearts, so, truly repenting of our sins, we may each return to you with all our heart. Help us trust in your gift of baptism, and strengthen us in discipleship and mission. By your Holy Spirit this Lenten season, make us alive and anew in grace alone, to listen to your Word, to make God first, to faithfully trust anew The One who is forever faithful. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

And Jesus said, “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 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. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 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. But 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. ... 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. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so 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. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

(New Revised Standard Version)

Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.

Ev’ry promise we can make,
Ev’ry prayer and step of faith,
Ev’ry diff’rence we will make
Is only by His grace.
Ev’ry mountain we will climb,
Ev’ry ray of hope we shine,
Ev’ry blessing left behind
Is only by His grace.
Grace alone which God supplies,
Strength unknown He will provide.
Christ in us, our Cornerstone,
We will go forth in grace alone.
We will go forth in grace alone.

The Spirit, intercedes for us,
With sighs too deep
For words to express,
Oh, oh, oh, ...

I cry with my voice to the Lord, with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.

I pour out my complaint before him, I tell my trouble before him. When my spirit is faint, you know my way.

In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.  I look to the right and watch, but there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me, no one cares for me.

I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry; for I am brought very low!”

Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name.

The righteous will surround me; for you will deal bountifully with me. Amen.

The Spirit, intercedes for us,
With sighs too deep
For words to express,
Oh, oh, oh, ...

What shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me?

I pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

I lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your handmaid. You have loosed my bonds.

I offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on your name.

I pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

In the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

The Spirit, intercedes for us,
With sighs too deep
For words to express,
Oh, oh, oh, ...

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.

In you, O Lord, do I seek refuge; let me never be put to shame;
In your righteousness deliver me!
Incline your ear to me, rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!
You are my rock and my fortress;
For your name’s sake lead me and guide me, 
For you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me,
O Lord, faithful God. Amen.

Friends, return to The Lord your God with all your heart; be alive and anew in God’s grace alone! The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor, and give you his peace. In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen.

In Christ alone
My hope is found,
He is my light, my strength,
My song;
This cornerstone,
This solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought
And storm.
What heights of love,
What depths of peace,
When fears are stilled,
When strivings cease.
My Comforter,
My all in all,
Here in the love of Christ
I stand.

No guilt in life,
No fear in death,
This is the pow’r
Of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry
To final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell,
No scheme of man,
Can ever pluck
Me from His hand.
‘Til He returns
Or calls me home,
Here in the pow’r of Christ
I’ll stand!

Here in the pow’r of Christ
I’ll stand!

Two foci in tension during Lent are sin and baptism. We are invited, beckoned, welcomed, blessed to return to The Lord with all our heart. In grace alone, we become alive and anew, we see and believe anew, even when we sin, The One who created us, The One who washes us in baptism, is tireless in coming to us, speaking to us, saving us, gracing us once again!

The use of ashes on this day acts as a bridge between the guilt of sin, and the grace of baptism. Ashes were once a cleansing agent, and also used as a penitential visible remembrance of baptism. The connecting imagery here is, while water can drown out life, water also gives fresh life; and while ashes are dirty, they also serve as an abrasive which cleanses.

In the 9th century, the imposition of ashes was used to mark those penitents temporarily excommunicated during the expulsion of Penitents, the original emphasis of Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday’s emphasis on sin also connects our understanding of it as a Day of Atonement to its similarity and historical development out of the Jewish Day of Atonement. With the day’s focus on penitence, ‘sin’ must not go unaddressed. Sin is most clear when we take an honest look at our heart and our treasure; when we look closely at who is The One we worship, The One who even now comes and speaks powerful, graceful, saving words to us! Sin for us as God’s people is “that which leads our hearts away from the love of God and the love for neighbor.”

As we reflect on sin, in grace alone, God blesses us to be alive and anew, to trust the hope and new life in baptism. The simplest translation for “Lent” is “spring.” Lent is God’s grace, springing forth new life out of sin, for our hope in baptism is empty without the death, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Trusting God’s heart is forever on us, gracing us with rebirth in baptism, is central to our Lenten journey. In preparing for Easter, we prepare even more for the additional mysteries of redemption from sin, everlasting life, salvation, hope, and life anew each and every day in grace alone!

Liking posts like this one helps get the word out about Lord of Life! Consider sharing posts like this with friends who may be missing their faith-based communities. Leave a comment and let us know what you liked or what moved you this week!

Follow us on facebook to watch our services live on Lord of Life LIVE! Watch with us live at 9:30am on Sundays, or rewatch at your own convenience!

Join us this Sunday, February 21, 9:30 a.m., as we share The First Sunday In Lent, “Power In Grace Alone!” Worship to include a Children’s Message and a Sermon from Pastor Jamie! Worship to be 30 minutes, and to conclude with Holy Communion! Join us in-person or via our live stream efforts!

As we share worship in this new way, we are seeking volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more! You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!

Friends, today as always, all who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion. Communion will be offered to you following the closing song as you exit the sanctuary, as we share pre-packaged single servings of communion, including a wafer and grape juice. Carefully pull back the first tab to expose the host, the body of Christ, given for you; then pull back the second tab to expose the blood of Christ, shed for you! Please ask for assistance or clarification as you are served!

For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving!

We hope having the service provided for you in this way, will touch you, comfort you, reassure you, and grace you in some way! If you believe others you know would be blessed to receive this bulletin, the sermon notes, or our live stream links, please forward these to them.

In this time when we are committed to safety and social distancing, please trust we are equally committed to keeping us socially and spiritually connected! On behalf of the Kingdom of God, thank you for the ways you make God and neighbor first!

From everyone on every level of leadership and service, we continue to pray for you and to give thanks to God for each of you! Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org

We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love and grace!

Acknowledgments for today’s service include:

“Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. Used with permission. “I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” Traditional African American Spiritual, and this arr. Nix/Cleveland © 1981 Abingdon Press, OL#00107 “Grace Alone” © 1998 Maranatha! Music, CCLI #2335524 “The Spirit Intercedes For Us” © 1989 Dakota Road Music, OL #62627 “In Christ Alone” © 2002 Thankyou Music CCLI #3350395 All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.