PRELUDE: Two Settings of the Passion Chorale, Johannes Brahms
* CALL TO WORSHIP, Bruce Hoffacker
Leader: O Lord, open my lips,
People: And my mouth will declare your praise.
Leader: You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
People: You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
Leader: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
People: A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Amen.
* HYMN No. 200: Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Leader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
People: According to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Leader: Wash away all my iniquity
People: And cleanse me from my sin.
Leader: Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
People: You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Leader: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
People: Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Leader: Restore to me the joy of your salvation
People: And grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Amen.
* KYRIE (pew card)
IMPOSITION OF ASHES
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
ANTHEM: A Lenten Meditation, arr. Brett Michaels
Jesus refuge of the weary, blest redeemer whom we love, fountain in life’s desert dreary, Savior from the work above.
Oh, how ’oft your eyes offended, gaze upon a sinner’s fall! Yet, upon the cross extended, You endured the pain of all.
Dare we pass that Cross unheeding, breathing no repentant vow, as we see you wounded, bleeding, see your thorn-encircled brow?
Since your sinless death has brought us life eternal, peace, and rest, only what your grace has taught us calms the sinner's deep distress.
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died. My richest gain, I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.
Jesus, may our hearts be burning with more fervent love for you! May our eyes be ever yearning, to behold Your Cross anew
’Till in glory, parted never from the blessed Savior’s side, Graven in our hearts forever, dwell the cross, the Crucified!
Graven in our hearts forever, dwell the cross, the Crucified!
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 146:7c-10, Pew Bible, page 507
who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!
Matthew 18:1-9, Pew Bible, page 799
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them,and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes! “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.
MEDITATION, Rev. Blaine Crawford
WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: Ah, Holy Jesus, arr. Craig Courtney
Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended that we to judge Thee have in hate pretended? By foes derided, by Thine own rejected, O most afflicted!
Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee! 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied Thee; I crucified Thee.
For me, kind Jesus, was Thine incarnation, Thy mortal sorrow, and Thy life's oblation; Thy death of anguish and Thy bitter passion, for my salvation.
Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay Thee, I do adore Thee, and will ever pray Thee, think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving, not my deserving. Ah, holy Jesus.
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Remembering with Love and Hope (pew card)
Invitation
Communion Prayer
Sanctus (pew card)
Mystery of the Faith (unison)
Christ has Died, Christ is Risen, Christ will come again.
Words of Institution
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING & INTERCESSION
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer response, Frederick C. Maker
Come to the Saviour, all, Whate'er your burdens be; Hear now His loving call, “Cast all your care on Me.” Come, and for every grief in Jesus you will find a sure and safe relief, a loving Friend and kind. Amen.
* HYMN No. 211: Lead Me to Calvary
* BENEDICTION
Response, William Horsley
O dearly, dearly has he loved, and we must love him too, and trust in his redeeming power, and try his works to do.
POSTLUDE: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee, J.S. Bach
ANNOUNCEMENTS
LOOSE OFFERING - On Ash Wednesday, the loose offering in the plate will be placed in the Benevolence Fund. This fund assists missions of the greater Church. Your extra gift this evening will provide the means to answer these needs. Thank you for caring.
A NEW MEMBERS CLASS will be held in March. If you are interested in joining the Church on the Hill, please speak to Pastor Blaine.
LENTEN BIBLE STUDY: Every Wednesday during Lent, Pastor Blaine and Elder Sally Ann Castle will lead a book study on Forgiveness: A Lenten Study by Marjorie Thompson. They will meet in the Folensbee Lounge at 7:30 P.M. If you are interested, speak to the Pastor or Sally Ann Castle.
COMMUNION TO SHUT-INS: Pastor Blaine and an elder will be making communion visits to our shut-ins during Lent. Please contact the Pastor or the church office if you know someone who would like to be visited.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Jorel Andaluz, Grace Attanasio, Marilyn Cooney, Letty Delgardo, Allegra DeMelo, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Jenny Hampton, Richard Holm, Robert Keller, 1st Lt. Alexandra Knese (in Liberia), Karen Krieg, Fritz Kunisch, Ann McCaffrey-Amalfitano, Nora McCarthy, Rev. John H. Meyer, John Molino, Josephine Rivera, Janice Serra