Pan-Methodist Ash Wednesday Service
March 2, 2022 • 7 PM
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Prelude
“What Wondrous Love Is This” — arr. John Dixon "Rock of Ages” — arr. David Hegarty
Welcome and Introductions
Call to Worship
All are invited to read the bold-faced type; the lay reader will read the unbolded type. Return to me! Christ calls, and we hear. Return to me! Christ calls, and we listen. Return to me! Christ calls, and we respond. Return to me! Christ calls, and we turn... toward life, toward love, toward God.
7 pm • March 2, 2022
The community gathers As the community gathers, may the music of the prelude draw your hearts and minds to God.
Ash Wednesday
Opening Hymn
#57 "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" (vv. 1, 2, 3, 7) Words: Charles Wesley; Tune: Azmon, Carl G. Glaser, arr. Lowell Mason
Prayer of Invocation
Scripture 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Special Music Gloria Brooks, voice and piano
“Grace” — Tasha Cobbs God loves me, adores me, watches over me, you are for me Grace loved me and it’s not what I deserved And nothing that I’ve earned But daily grace saves me. Oh but for your grace, I’d be lost, but for your grace Grace, it saves me, it raises me, it keeps me, am clothed in it I'm mighty grateful I didn't deserve it, but it's mine I’d be lost but for your grace
Sermon
Litany of Confession and Reconciliation
“From dust we came. Unto dust we shall return (Genesis 3:19).” The season of lent commences with a bitter confrontation with death. We cannot run from it. We cannot hide from it. We have no power to prevent it. Doctors cannot stop it. We will all die. Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. (Job 14:2) This bold confrontation with death forces believers to examine their lives. It forces believers to reassess themselves. Have I wasted my life? Have I squandered my existence? Have I lived for Christ? For only what we do for Christ will last! It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer. But there is hope! We will all die, but tonight ashes will be imposed on our head in the shape of the cross. At the cross Jesus canceled the record of our debt. At the cross Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. At the cross I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith we received our sight and now I am happy all the day Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. (Psalm 32:1-2) We have received a second chance. We have received eternal life. We have a reason to rejoice. Now let us walk worthy of the call we have received. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who emptied himself and took on the form of a slave, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on the cross. Therefore, God exalted him and handed a name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:5-11)
Invitation to the Lenten Discipline and Imposition of Ashes
Music
"Have You Heard God's Voice" — Jacqui G. Jones, arr. Frederick Chatfield
Hymn
#292 "What Wondrous Love Is This" , vv. 1-3 Words and Music: American folk hymn
Participants in the Service
Preacher: Rev. Derrill A. Blue — Presiding Elder, Rochester-Syracuse District; Pastor, Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Clergy Participants: Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Cady — Senior Minister, Asbury First United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Julius C. Clay — Pastor, New Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Rev. James C. Simmons — Pastor, Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church Organist: Duane Prill (Asbury First UMC) Soloists: Gloria Brooks (Memorial AME Zion) Bess Phillips, Brenda Nitsch, Dan McInerney, Jordan Bachmann, Holden Turner, Kayla Sconiers (Asbury First UMC) Audio Operator: Rick Church Camera Operator: Kenny Bailey
Permissions: "Grace" © 2013 Capital Christian Music Group; “Have You Heard God's Voice” © 2018 St. James Music Press; Hymns © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; OneLicense.net #A-721053. Some of the liturgical elements have been adapted from the 2021 Abingdon Worship Annual. Illustration Credits: Designed by Sarah Brubaker and Freepik and Vecteezy.
Benediction
Postlude
"The Church's One Foundation" — arr. John Dixon
The AME Zion Church Methodism in Western New York has one of its most enduring proponents in the Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Rochester, New York. Founded in 1827, the early church edifice was connected to the Underground Railroad in Rochester. Harriet Tubman, known as “The Moses of her people,” is credited with leading hundreds of Negro slaves to freedom, using the first building to shelter fugitive slaves. Susan B. Anthony gave one of her last public addresses in the church, and Frederick Douglass edited his abolitionist papers, “The North Star,” from presses set up in the church basement.
For more than nine decades, New Bethel CME Church has been spreading the message of Christianity through church services and Bible studies. Aside from offering an enlightening atmosphere for spiritual development, it is our mission to reach out to the poor and make their lives better. We sponsor many outreach ministries to help under served communities in Rochester, NY and surrounding areas. New Bethel CME Church is more than just an institution. We are a family that seeks the will of God and lives in accordance to His Word with our fellow brothers and sisters. Come and join our growing church today and be a testament of salvation and grace to other people. Contact our staff to learn more about our church services and outreach programs.
About New Bethel Christian Methodist episcopal church
About Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
www.baberrochester.org
Founded in 1956, Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church is committed to making men and women who reflect the life and love of Jesus Christ! Known for its emphasis on discipleship, celebration of black culture, and love for community, Baber Church is led by the Reverend James C. Simmons, whose spiritual prowess and business acumen has contributed to the growth and prosperity of Baber. The Mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed. At every level of the connection and in every local church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church shall engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society.
About Baber African Methodist Episcopal Church
About Asbury First united methodist church
www.memorialamezion.org
www.asburyfirst.org
Just as the Christian faith is about bringing life to the world, Asbury First is about bringing life to this community. We believe the only way to the fullness of life promised by Jesus Christ is through love—love of God and love of neighbor. Through love we find life. In a love-filled life, we are led to serve others. Through service to others, we find love fully expressed. This cycle is the heart of discipleship and as such, we believe it is the key to living into God’s dream for this community. Thus, our mission at Asbury First is to love God and neighbor, to live fully, to serve all, and then to do it all again. Or said simply—love. live. serve. repeat.
www.newbethelcme.org