Ash Wednesday Mini-Retreat

ASH WEDNESDAY ORDER OF PRAYER

Centering Yourself in God:
I belong to you, O God; I belong to you;
I belong; I belong; I belong. I belong to you. Amen.
Silence
Reading: John 3:16-17
Prayer:

O God the Father, creator of heaven and earth—
Have mercy on me.
O God the Son, redeemer of the world—
Have mercy on me.
O God the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide—
Have mercy on me.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity—
three persons and one God—
Have mercy on me.
Loving God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: I confess that I have gone astray from your ways and I humbly ask for your mercy. Bring me again with a penitent heart and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son. I acknowledge my need for repentance and my need for the love and forgiveness shown to me in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Self-examination:
• In what specific areas of my life have I failed to invite God?
• In what things do I need to “die” so that I might really live?
• Am I sharing time, talents, and treasure in the church?
• Listen for God’s voice. Not a voice of accusation, but of voice welcoming you home. Listen for the Savior’s kind voice through the Holy Spirit, assuring you, “Do not be afraid; I am with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you; I will never let you down, and never let you go!”

Confession and Assurance of Pardon:
• Psalm 51
• Silence
• And then read this psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating the good news of God’s steadfast love: Psalm 103

Prayer in your own words… and then, go in the peace of Christ!

BACKGROUND: For all the years I've been at First Presbyterian Lake Crystal we've observed Ash Wednesday with some sort of Service of Ashes, even though my first year here it was almost completely new to most of the congregation. (Or, thought of as something "only Catholics did" to begin Lent.) But attendance hasn't been... Well, let me preface that thought: I'm not one to stop doing a good thing just because only a few attend or find it meaningful. I'm a great believer in the idea, "where two or three are gathered..." That said, I just really felt this was a good year to give the "new tradition" a rest. I don't know, just to see if anyone misses it. I know I will. And I've already heard from my son, Luke, who--come to think of it--has participated in the service of ashes for about half his life. Luke will miss it, too. Maybe we'll do it at home. But anyway, this service of prayer was designed to encourage members of the church to observe Ash Wednesday with a discipline of personal prayer. The inspiration comes from "An Order of Worship for Ash Wednesday" written by John Paarlberg, pastor of First Church in Albany, New York. The written prayer is a direct quote from his service. The rest of the stuff is mostly written by me.

Blessings as you begin your Lenten journey.

Peace Love & Coffee....... Randy

A prayer for Valentine's Day

We're observing the Feast of St. Valentine with worship focused on the theme, 'Be Mine': We love because God first loved us. Here's the intercessory prayer I wrote by adapting two prayers, one from the Liturgy of the Feast of St. Valentine from the Irish Province of the Order of Carmelites and one from a prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson (Book of Common Worship: Daily Prayer, p. 440).

Eternal God, whose steadfast love endures forever, we praise and worship you as Lord of our lives on this, the feast of St Valentine.
We ask you to listen and to grant our prayers:

We pray for all who have promised to love, honor and cherish each other in marriage, that they may be strengthened through prayer and the sacraments; that they may be a witness to the world of the joy of their lives together.

We pray for those who have recently become engaged: we thank God for them and pray for them that the Lord will help them in practical ways as they prepare for their lives together and that they will be blessed with good health and material blessings. And though their eyes may be bright with love for each other, keep in sight a wider world, where neighbors want and strangers beg, and where service is a joyful sacrifice of praise.

We hear of many for whom marriage has broken down or where sickness or sadness seems to be their lot: Lord, you have promised we are never on our own…… Be with those who suffer and grant them your healing…. Be with those who go separate ways and grant them restored confidence, new understandings, healing and hope.

We pray for our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace given us this day,
for the hope with which we look for tomorrow,
for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies
that make our lives delightful,
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
In our journey together as sisters and brothers,
Give us courage and laughter, patience and quietness.
Bless us on our journey together
and in the mission of Christ you have given us.
And grant us the strength to endure and persevere
whatever may come our way, whether of good or ill.
And in all things, keep us loyal and loving to one another.

Like the seed that falls to the ground and dies,
may we die daily to our own selfishness
so that the true wheat of love may grow in our lives
for others to see and take to heart.

All this we ask through the powerful name
of the one who loves us to the uttermost…
who taught us to pray with each other and for each other… praying…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

An Order of Worship incorporating a congregational meeting

THE SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

We are a “Community-of-Belonging” that gathers together each week to celebrate the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
"A House of Prayer for All Peoples"
LAKE CRYSTAL, MINNESOTA
REV. RANDAL K. LUBBERS, Pastor & Teacher

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
10:00 PM • FEBRUARY 7, 2010

THE APPROACH TO GOD
Welcome, Announcements, Joys & Concerns, Prayer of Preparation
CENTERING OURSELVES IN GOD: Prelude
GOD WELCOMES US INTO WORSHIP: Psalm 100:1-2, 5
Leader: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Amen.
Leader: Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come into God’s presence with singing!
People: For the Lord is a gracious God,
whose mercy is everlasting;
and whose faithfulness endures to all generations.
OPENING HYMN: “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty" (LOBE DEN HERREN)
PRAYER OF ADORATION
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: What we believe about the Church from the Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 54
I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member. Amen.
CHOIR ANTHEM: "Song of Fellowship"
CALL TO CONFESSION: Based on Hebrews 4:14-16
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
God of light,
we have been so blind when truth has been so clear.
When we could have looked ahead, we fell behind.
When we could have viewed the wider picture, we saw only a part.
When we could have sensed the Spirit leading, we missed the way.
Forgive our dim apprehension of love’s clear leading.
Give us faith that trusts when it cannot see,
through the light that lingers when all else fails,
even the bright Morning Star of our faith, Jesus Christ, the Savior. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Peter 2:24
THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.
Please stand, if you are able, and greet one another with signs of Christ’s peace
GLORIA PATRI (sung in unison)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

THE WORD OF GOD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 6:1-8
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
PSALTOR: Psalm 138
GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 5:1-11
SERMON: “Deep Waters” (Rev. Randal K. Lubbers)

THE RESPONSE TO GOD
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERING / OFFERTORY MUSIC
DOXOLOGY: OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
HYMN: “Built on the Rock”
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION
CALL TO ORDER WITH PRAYER
AGENDA
CLOSING PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" (HYMN TO JOY)
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE