Ash Wednesday
ORDER OF WORSHIP PRELUDE
Sonata III: Andante Tranquilo Natalie Mealey, organ
Felix Mendelssohn
*CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: People: Leader:
People: Leader: People: Leader:
Tonight, we embark upon a journey of forty days, yet it is a journey that lasts a lifetime. The journey begins within our hearts and beckons us to repent, to change directions, to be made new. The Lenten journey—from the ashes of death to resurrected life—reminds us that unless we are willing to die to self, we cannot be raised to new life with Christ. We follow the light of Christ on the way to the cross and empty tomb; and we turn from evil to embrace new life in Christ. Know that the first step of this journey calls us to acknowledge and confront our mortality. In many traditions this is symbolized through the imposition of ashes— placing a cross of ashes on one’s forehead or upon the back of one’s hand. In dying to sin, we live in Christ! Then let us worship the Lord.
PRAYER OF INVOCATION *HYMN
O Lord, throughout These Forty Days
1. O Lord, throughout these forty days you prayed and kept the fast; inspire repentance for our sin, and free us from our past. 2. As you with Satan did contend and did the victory win, O give us strength to persevere, in you to conquer sin.
tune: NEW BRITAIN
3. Though parched and hungry, yet you prayed and fixed your mind above; so teach us to deny ourselves that we may know God’s love. 4. Be with us through this season, Lord, and all our earthly days, that when the final Easter dawns, we join in heaven’s praise.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of Compassion, we turn toward you now and we rend our hearts. Forgive our pride and our insecurities. Forgive our self-absorption and our self-destruction. Forgive our doubts and our confidence. Forgive our longing for attention and our desire to hide. Forgive each step we take away from you. Create in us clean hearts, O God. And renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from us. Make us new in Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. ASSURANCE Leader:
All:
2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has passed away. Behold, the new has come. Therefore, let us assure one another of God’s pardon. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.
ANTHEM
What Wondrous Love Is This Chancel Choir
arr. Benjamin Harlan
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this That caused the Lord of bliss To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, To bear the dreadful curse for my soul. When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down Beneath God's righteous frown, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul. SCRIPTURE
Ephesians 2:1-10
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Leader: This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God! *HYMN
From Death to Life
tune: MELITA
1. From death to life, oh, what a thought! Within my soul what change is wrought By pow’r divine, no tongue can tell, One thing I know—for me ’tis well; Oh, praise the Lord for victory, From death to life He lifted me.
3. Life from above, oh, joy sublime! That such a treasure should be mine; Now in God’s Son I have a part, Eternal life within my heart; Oh, praise the Lord for victory, From death to life He lifted me.
2. From darkness unto light sublime, Through my Redeemer’s matchless Name; For this He left His home on high, That I should not forever die. Oh, praise the Lord for victory, From death to life He lifted me.
4. Translated from the shades of night, Into the realm of glorious light; I’ve been awakened from the dead, And now I live with Christ instead; Oh, praise the Lord for victory, From death to life He lifted me.
SCRIPTURE
Colossians 3:1-3, 12-14, 17
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity... And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. SERMON
“DARE TO BE NEW: FROM DEATH TO LIFE”
Rev. Brett Everett
WORDS OF INSTITUTION & PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Pastors will release congregation to the outside aisles from the front to back to receive ashes and the communion elements. Ashes will be administered by the pastor to the forehead or top of the hand. Those who do not wish to receive ashes may simply cross their arms over their chest. After receiving the ashes, proceed to the two communion stations. After receiving the elements, please continue to the middle aisle and return to your seat. *THE IMPOSITION OF THE ASHES Leader: Individual: Leader:
Are you willing to follow Jesus to the cross? I am. You are mortal and you will die.
*RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT *HYMN #491
Jesus, I Come
1. Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come; Into Thy freedom, gladness and light, Jesus, I come to Thee. Out of my sickness into Thy health, Out of my want and into Thy wealth, Out of my sin and into Thyself, Jesus, I come to Thee.
3. Out of unrest and arrogant pride, Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come; Into Thy blessed will to abide, Jesus, I come to Thee. Out of myself to dwell in Thy love, Out of despair into raptures above, Upward for aye on wings like a dove, Jesus, I come to Thee.
2. Out of my shameful failure and loss, Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come; Into the glorious gain of Thy cross, Jesus, I come to Thee. Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm, Out of life's storms and into Thy calm, Out of distress to jubilant psalm, Jesus, I come to Thee.
4. Out of the fear and dread of the tomb, Jesus I come; Jesus I come; Into the joy and light of Thy home, Jesus, I come to Thee. Out of the depths of ruin untold, Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold, Ever Thy glorious face to behold, Jesus, I come to Thee.
*BENEDICTION & RESPONSE
Wait in Silence and Reflection. Depart silently when you are ready.
You are Invited to Join Us for
Holy Week Services PALM SUNDAY - Sunday, March 28, 2020, 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am On Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. It is the week before His death and resurrection and also marks the beginning of Holy Week.
MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE - Thursday, April 1, 7:00pm This is the Thursday before Easter, the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. He shared a meal with them which is known as the Last Supper. Communion will be served. GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE - Friday, April 2, 7:00pm At this service the Chancel Choir, with orchestra, will present a cantata which reflects upon the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. EASTER SERVICES - Sunday, April 4, service times TBD We commemorate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. --Desert Hills Presbyterian Church 34605 North Tom Darlington Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85266 office hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm telephone: 480.488.3384 / fax: 480.488.0850 website: www.deserthills.org / email: admin@deserthills.org Senior Pastor: Reverend Jim Noble / Assistant Pastor: Reverend Brett Everett