ASH WEDNESDAY 17 February 2021Markham Lutheran Church, 3518 W. 160th St., Markham, Illinois 60428E-mail: MLCoffice@markhamlutheranchurch.org; Tel: 708-331-4885

Website: http://www.Markhamlutheranchurch.org/Pastor Larry Schneekloth

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday begins the 6 ½ week season of Lent, which culminates in the Easter celebration. This day takes its name from the custom of putting ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of our penitence and sorrow for sin, and of God’s forgiveness.

As a symbol, ashes remind us of our physical beginning and human outcome in “DUST TO DUST, ASHES TO ASHES.” They are one of the tokens of mourning among the Hebrews. The ashes mean contrition, repentance, and are also a reminder of the transitoriness of life. The Lenten season of discipline which begins this evening is a period of self-examination, repentance, and sorrow for sin—a time of spiritual growth and renewal. The discipline of Lenten fasting is to be carried out as part of our discipleship to Jesus. The fast is one way to turn to the Lord, as are the other Lenten disciplines of prayer, study, worship, and the giving of alms. In Lent, we turn toward the Lord and toward the blessing he has given us in his life, death, and resurrection.

PRAYER BEFORE ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIPAlmighty God, we come before you, grateful for the kind mercy you show us each day. Touch us now with your call to repent and welcome us once more as we place our trust in you. Lead us through these Lenten days from sin to freedom, from darkness to light, from death to life. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The First Hymn of Lent

419 Savior, When in Dust to Thee

Text and tune: Public domain

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.AMEN.

Let us pray: Almighty and ever-living God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and honest hearts, so that, truly repenting our sins, we may obtain from you, the God of mercy, full pardon and forgiveness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

AMEN.

THE LESSONS FOR ASH WEDNESDAY

Joel 2:12-1912 Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 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. 14 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? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly;16

 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. 17 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?’” 18 Then the LORD became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.19 In response to his people the LORD said: I am sending you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a mockery among the nations.The word of the Lord.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

Psalm 51, Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon1 Have mercy on me, O God,    according to your steadfast love;according to your abundant mercy    blot out my transgressions.2 WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MY INIQUITY,    AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN.3 For I know my transgressions,    and my sin is ever before me.4 AGAINST YOU, YOU ALONE, HAVE I SINNED,    AND DONE WHAT IS EVIL IN YOUR SIGHT,SO THAT YOU ARE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR SENTENCE    AND BLAMELESS WHEN YOU PASS JUDGMENT.5 Indeed, I was born guilty,    a sinner when my mother conceived me.6 YOU DESIRE TRUTH IN THE INWARD BEING;[A]

    THEREFORE TEACH ME WISDOM IN MY SECRET HEART.7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8 LET ME HEAR JOY AND GLADNESS;    LET THE BONES THAT YOU HAVE CRUSHED REJOICE.9 Hide your face from my sins,    and blot out all my iniquities.10 CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD,    AND PUT A NEW AND RIGHT[B] SPIRIT WITHIN ME.11 Do not cast me away from your presence,    and do not take your holy spirit from me.12 RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION,    AND SUSTAIN IN ME A WILLING[C] SPIRIT.13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,    and sinners will return to you.14 DELIVER ME FROM BLOODSHED, O GOD,    O GOD OF MY SALVATION,    and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.15 O Lord, open my lips,    and my mouth will declare your praise.16 FOR YOU HAVE NO DELIGHT IN SACRIFICE;    IF I WERE TO GIVE A BURNT OFFERING, YOU WOULD NOT BE PLEASED.17 The sacrifice acceptable to God[d] is a broken spirit;    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.18 DO GOOD TO ZION IN YOUR GOOD PLEASURE;    REBUILD THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM,19 then you will delight in right sacrifices,

    in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.GLORY TO YOU, O LORD.

Matthew 6:1-21

Concerning Almsgiving

6 “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. 2 “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. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Concerning Prayer5 “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. 6 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. 7 “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.9 “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10

 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12

 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us to

the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Concerning Fasting16 “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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 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.

Concerning Treasures19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAISE TO YOU, LORD JESUS CHRIST!

743 Jesus, Priceless Treasure

5 Evil world, I leave thee;Thou canst not deceive me, Thine appeal is vain.Sin that once did blind me,Get thee far behind me, Come not forth again. Past thy hour, O pride and pow’r;Sinful life, thy bonds I sever,Leave thee now forever.

6 Hence, all fear and sadness!For the Lord of gladness, Jesus, enters in.Those who love the Father,Though the storms may gather, Still have peace within. Yea, whate’er I here must bear,Thou art still my purest pleasure,Jesus, priceless treasure!

Text and tune: Public domain

The HomilyTHE SERVICE OF CONFESSION AND ASHES

Hymn of the day (Tune: “O Sacred Head”) 1. Remember, earth-bound mortal, the dust from which you came, And know that life's last portal returns you to the same! Let ashes tell the story, from dust its lesson learn: Beyond life's fleeting glory to dust you shall return!

2. Like flow'rs cast in the furnace, our lives are quickly spent. To dust, O God, you turn us and call us to repent: "Turn back, O mortals, grieving o'er your iniquity, That, steadfast love receiving, you may my mercy see."

3. O God, you once did fashion our lives from earth's frail dust. Through Jesus' cross and passion help us your grace to trust. For Christ was born of Mary, our mortal dust to share; Our sin and guilt to carry, our ransom to prepare. 4. Let ashes be the token of heartfelt penitence, And of the promise spoken to raise our bodies hence. Have mercy on us mortals! Let faith within us burn, That even from death's portals we may to life return.

My brothers and sisters in Christ: God created us to experience joy in communion with him, to love all humanity, to live in harmony with all his creation. But sin separates us from God, from our neighbors, and from creation, so that we do not enjoy the life our Creator intended for us. Also, by our sin we grieve our Father in heaven, who does not desire us to come under his judgment, but wills that we turn to him and live.

As disciples of the Lord Jesus, we are called to struggle against everything that leads us away from love of God and love of neighbor. Repentance, fasting, prayer, and works of love–the disciplines of Lent–help us to wage our spiritual warfare. I invite you, therefore, to commit yourself to this struggle and confess your sins, asking our Father in heaven for strength to persevere in your Lenten discipline.

(a silence for personal prayer and confession)

On this day of penitence and ashes, let us make confession of our sins. I ask you before God, who searches the heart: Do you sincerely confess that you have sinned against God and deserve his wrath and punishment?

I DO CONFESS.Verily, you should confess....

Do you heartily repent of all your sins committed in thought, word, and deed?I DO REPENT.

Verily, you should repent....

Do you sincerely believe that God, by grace, for Jesus' sake, will forgive you all your sins?I DO BELIEVE.

Verily, you should believe....

Do you promise that with the help of the Holy Spirit you will henceforth amend your sinful life?

I DO PROMISE.Verily, you should so promise....

Let us pray:FATHER OF MERCY, AND FATHER OF LOVE, LOOK ON US WITH KINDNESS AS WE TURN OUR GAZE TO YOU. WE WILL TAKE UPON US THIS SIGN OF REPENTANCE, PROCLAIMING AS WE DO THAT WE ARE NOTHING IF WE ARE NOT YOURS. ASHES WE WERE, AND ASHES WE WILL BE. BUT YOU, O GOD, ARE FOREVER. AMEN.

The Imposition of the ashes

All who desire may sign with ashes on your forehead (or you may sign each other) as a sign of repentance and sorrow for your sin. As the ashes are applied, say "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." You may also respond, "AMEN."

(after all who desire have received the sign of the ashes)

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS

CHRIST!

Bear well the mark of ash. Remember who you are, in mourning and repentance. But above all, remember who God is. It is God who forgives your sins. It is God who heals your diseases. It is God who redeems your life from the grave, and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. It is God who satisfies you with good as long as you live, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Bear well the mark of ash. But let it be only an outward reminder of what no longer dwells within you. Lord, have mercy on us.

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME. CAST ME NOT AWAY FROM YOUR PRESENCE, AND TAKE NOT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME. RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION, AND UPHOLD ME WITH YOUR FREE SPIRIT.

May our God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins, and bring you to life everlasting, in the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

AMEN.

THE SERVICE OF THE HOLY COMMUNION Marked with these ashes, under the sign of death and new mercy, let us give thanks to God, and share in the body and blood of his Son. Lift up your hearts to the Lord.

WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN THANKS AND PRAISE.

We thank and praise you, O holy Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. You bid your people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the Easter Feast. Renew our zeal in faith and life, and bring us to the fullness of grace that belongs to the children of God. With angels and archangels, with the whole company of heaven and earth, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD OF HOSTS: HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF YOUR GLORY. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST. BLESSED IS HE (+) THAT COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST.

Blessed are you...comes to us in his holy Supper.AMEN. COME, LORD JESUS

Our Lord Jesus.... the Lord's death until he comes.CHRIST HAS DIED. CHRIST IS RISEN. CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN.

In the words of our Lord we pray: OUR FATHER...

The Holy Communion

The Thanksgiving and ClosingWe thank you that you have given us a share in the body and blood of your Son, in

his life and death and resurrection--in the great victory he has won over sin and death.

FILL US ONCE MORE WITH NEW STRENGTH AND COURAGE. CONTINUE TO REMIND US OF YOUR GRACE AND MERCY. HELP US THESE LENTEN DAYS TO TRULY TURN TO YOU FOR SPIRITUAL RENEWAL. LEAD US THROUGH LENT TO A TRULY JOYFUL AND SPIRIT-FILLED CELEBRATION OF YOUR EASTER VICTORY. AMEN.

Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.AMEN.

767 Jesus, Remember Me

Tune and text: © 1981 Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Taizé Community, France, admin. GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001341