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Amazing Grace

Lent Worship Series

Ash Wednesday: David

Order of Service

Opening Hymn # 744 Amazing Grace

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1

I lay my sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God; He bears them all and frees us from the accursed load. I bring my guilt to Jesus to wash my crimson stains Clean in his blood most precious till not a spot remains.

I lay my wants on Jesus; all fullness dwells in him; He heals all my diseases; my soul he does redeem. I lay my griefs on Jesus, my burdens and my cares; He from them all releases; he all my sorrows shares.

I rest my soul on Jesus, this weary soul of mine; His right hand me embraces; I on his breast recline. I love the name of Jesus, Immanuel, Christ the Lord; Like fragrance on the breezes his name abroad is poured.

Confession and Absolution

P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

P King David sinned against the Lord, committing adultery and murder. When he was confronted by the prophet Nathan, the king repented of his sins. In the Spirit-inspired words of a psalm, David expressed his sorrow over his sins and his trust in God’s mercy: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.” God, in his grace, forgave the repentant king. As we begin our Lenten journey on this Ash Wednesday, we repent of our sins and, using the words of David’s psalm, we seek God’s amazing grace and ask him to have mercy on us.

C “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight … Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities” (Psalm 51:1-4, 9).

P Just as he did in the life of his servant David, God has showered us with his grace, his undeserved favor for sinners. God sent his Son into the world to be our Savior. On the cross Jesus took onto himself the penalty of death that we deserved for our sins and now those sins are washed away in his blood. I announce to you that your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

C “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 to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12).

Imposition of Ashes

P In repentant humility, the Old Testament figure Job said, “I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). In ancient times, God’s people often demonstrated sorrow for their sins by putting dust and ashes on their heads, a reminder of the penalty of death decreed in Eden, when God said, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). Today on Ash Wednesday, as we begin our journey to the cross with Jesus, we remember that we are sinners and that we need a Savior. We receive a mark of ashes in the sign of a cross, remembering that, on the cross, Jesus took onto himself the penalty of death for our sins. You are invited to come forward and receive the mark of ashes.

Participants are invited to come forward at the direction of the ushers.

Savior, when in dust to thee low we bow the adoring knee; When, repentant, to the skies scarce we lift our weeping eyes; O, by all thy pains and woe suffered once for us below, Bending from thy throne on high, hear our penitential cry!

By thy helpless infant years, by thy life of want and tears, By thy days of deep distress in the savage wilderness, By the dread, mysterious hour of the insulting tempter’s power Turn, O turn a favoring eye; hear our penitential cry!

By thine hour of dire despair, by thine agony of prayer, By the cross, the nail, the thorn, piercing spear, and torturing scorn, By the gloom that veiled the skies o’er the dreadful sacrifice, Listen to our humble sigh; hear our penitential cry!

By thy deep expiring groan, by the sad sepulchral stone, By the vault whose dark abode held in vain the rising God, O, from earth to heaven restored, mighty, reascended Lord, Bending from thy throne on high, hear our penitential cry!

Old Testament Reading … 2 Samuel 12:1-13

Epistle Reading … Romans 4:4-8

Gospel Reading … Luke 15:8-10

To thee, omniscient Lord of all, in grief and shame I humbly call; I see my sins against thee, Lord, the sins of thought and deed and word. They press me sore; I cry to thee; O God, be merciful to me!

Sermon: David

O Jesus, let thy precious blood be to my soul a cleansing flood. Turn not, O Lord, thy guest away, but grant that justified I may Go to my house at peace with thee: O God, be merciful to me!

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering

Prayers

P Almighty God, we praise you for the grace displayed in the life of your servant King David. Through David’s descendant and greater Son, Jesus Christ our King, you fulfilled your promise to bring us life and salvation. Gracious Lord,