UFMCC Resource Kit for Ash Wednesday 2000

 A resource kit prepared by The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches for Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday falls on March 8, 2000. Churches traditionally hold services at noon or in the evening to mark the beginning of the season of Lent. For information about the history of Ash Wednesday and the practice of distribution of ashes, please see the previous Ash Wednesday resources available on the UFMCC IntraNet.

This worship service is in the style of the Taizé community of France. For more information about this style of worship and to order resources, go to http://www.taize.fr/. Information is available in many languages.

Music

Song books and other resources can be purchased from the following publishers and distributors:

Liturgy– English

Gathering Song

Evening Scriptures

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. God is near to the broken-hearted and saves those whose spirit is crushed.   (Ps 34:14-15 )

Console my people, says your God, console them and speak to their hearts.   (Is 40:1-2)

Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of God shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and God will answer; you shall cry for help, and God will say, "Here I am."    (Is 58:6-9a)

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. You have set me free from my distress.   (Ps 4:1)

"Yet even now," says the Sovereign, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments."
Return to the Sovereign, your God, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.   (Joel 2:12-13)

Song

Psalm: Psalm 51:1-12
Use a chorus, such as "Stay with Me," as a refrain.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Chorus

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.

Chorus

Against you, you only, have I sinned,
and done that which is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless in your judgement.

Chorus

I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my parents conceive me.
You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Chorus

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be cleaner than snow.
Fill me with joy and gladness;
let the bones which you have broken rejoice.

Chorus

Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.

Chorus

Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Chorus

Song

Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

Silent Contemplation

Song

Community Prayer

Song

Distribution of Ashes
As you apply the ashes to each person's forehead, you may say, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return," or "Return to God with all your heart," or other appropriate words.

Song

Candlelight Prayer
Participants are invited to come forward and pray around the cross, kneeling, standing or sitting. Small candles, like those used for Christmas Eve services, can be then lit and carried back to the person's seat. Music should be sung and/or played during the prayer time.

Closing Prayer

Song

Invite participants to remain in prayer and to depart as they wish.