Ash Wednesday | February 1, 2021

Government Street Presbyterian Church Spring Hill Presbyterian Church The Presbytery of South Alabama Wednesday, February 17, 2021 A s h W e d n e s d ay

Gathering

Wherever you are worshiping today, we pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to you through the scripture, prayers, music, Chiming of the Hour and sermon. We are called to worship by the promises of Prelude Andra Bohnet, flute God in whom we place our faith and trust.

Welcome & Introductions

TRI-TONE

Morceau de concours G. Faure/arr. Bish

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

Scripture and Hymn settings Call to Worship can be found on pages 4-8of Return to the Lord your God, the bulletin. We invite you to for God is gracious. reflect on the hymn texts as they are sung, and the Confess to the Lord your God, Scriptures as they are read. for God is merciful.

Repent to the Lord your God, for God is slow to anger.

Praise the Lord your God, for God abounds in steadfast love.

We gather on this Ash Wednesday, not because we must, but to start on a journey that leads to resurrection.

Hymn 415—The differing Together, let us worship God who leads us on this path. voices of this text indicate that its parts were not created Hymn 415 Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy together. The stanzas are cast RESTORATION in the voice of a preacher or exhorter, but the refrain (added later) takes the voice of a penitent heeding that call in language like that of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:18).

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P roclaiming the Word Rev. Alexandra Hutson I n t h e P r a y e r f o r Prayer of Illumination unison Illumination, we ask the Holy Merciful God, your word is our way of truth and life.

Spirit to be present with us as Create in us hearts that are clean and put your Holy Spirit within us, we hear God’s word read and so that we may receive your grace preached. We seek to better and declare your praise forever; understand God’s will so that through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. we can follow Christ more faithfully.

Scripture Sermon

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

“It’s Not About Me”

Rev. Dr. Cary G. Speaker

Thanksgiving Hymn 433

Sign Us with Ashes

Hymn 433— The refrain here vs. 5,6; PHOENIX recalls the imposition of ashes, Rev. Dr. Anna Fulmer Duke a ritual based on Genesis Prayer of Confession 3:19, which has been a part of Following each intercession, the people respond: Christian worship on Ash “Have mercy on us, O God.” Wednesday since the 9th century. As The Book of Imposition of Ashes Common Worship states, “This Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Amen. ancient sign speaks of the ❖ At this time, we invite you to partake in our imposition of ashes. Using potting soil, frailty and uncertainty of dirt, or charcoal, make the sign of the cross on your forehead with the ashes. If you are human life.”

worshipping with others in your home, make the sign of the cross on one another’s foreheads.

Meditation—His second mostfamous piece, Gounod wrote Meditation O Divine Redeemer “Repentir” only six months Sami Anselmo, soprano Ch. Gounod (1818-1893) before his death, composing Ah ! Turn me not away, receive me tho' unworthy; both the original French lyric Hear Thou my cry, behold, Lord, my distress! and orchestration. The semiAnswer me from thy throne haste Thee, Lord to mine aid, operatic “scene in the form of Thy pity show in my deep anguish! Let not the sword of vengeance smite me, a prayer” is heartfelt and with pious fervor is not surprising in Though righteous thine anger, O Lord! Shield me in danger, O regard me! that Gounod had, in his youth, On Thee, Lord, alone will I call. considered entering the O Divine Redeemer! I pray thee, grant me pardon, priesthood. and remember not, remember not my sins!

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Forgive me, O Divine Redeemer!

Night gathers round my soul; fearful, I cry to thee; Come to mine aid, O Lord! Haste thee, Lord, haste to help me!

Hear my cry ! Save me Lord in thy mercy; Come and save me O Lord Save, in the day of retribution, from death shield thou me, O my God! O Divine Redeemer, have mercy! Help me, my Savior!

Prayer of Intercession

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

Sending Charge & Benediction

Rev. Buz Wilcoxon

Postlude

Toccata in E minor

J. Pachelbel (1653-1706)

“Ashes”

by John Stuart

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Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

your face, 18 so that your fasting may be

6 “Beware of practicing your piety before

seen not by others but by your Father

others in order to be seen by them; for

who is in secret; and your Father who

then you have no reward from your

sees in secret will reward you.

Father in heaven.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves

2 “So whenever you give alms, do not

treasures on earth, where moth and rust

sound a trumpet before you, as the

consume and where thieves break in and

hypocrites do in the synagogues and in

steal; 20 but store up for yourselves

the streets, so that they may be praised

treasures in heaven, where neither moth

by others. Truly I tell you, they have

nor rust consumes and where thieves do

received their reward. 3 But when you

not break in and steal. 21 For where your

give alms, do not let your left hand know

treasure is, there your heart will be also.

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. 5 “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.

16 “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 4

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Copyright© Certificate Hymn settings, scripture, and other materials used by permission.

Government Street Presbyterian Church CCLI# 11115660 Valid thru 10/31/2021 7

CELEBRATING IN WORSHIP MINISTERS OF WORD AND SACRAMENT

MUSICIANS

Rev. Dr. Anna Fulmer Duke

Samantha Anselmo

ASSOCIATE PASTOR SPRING HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

SOPRANO

Rev. Alexandra Hutson

Andra Bohnet

Rev. Rebekah Abel Lamar

Tommy Watts

ASSOCIATE PASTOR GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

SENIOR PASTOR GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

FLUTE

ORGANIST

Rev. Dr. Cary G. Speaker

GUEST PREACHER & INTERIM PRESBYTER THE PRESBYTERY OF SOUTH ALABAMA

Rev. Dr. Searcy Allen “Buz” Wilcoxon, IV SENIOR PASTOR SPRING HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 300 GOVERNMENT STREET | MOBILE, AL 36602 GSPCMOBILE.ORG | @GSPCMOBILE

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