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Ash Wednesday

CTW: Blow the Trumpet in Zion

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based on Joel 2:1-2,12-17

Blow the trumpet in Zion; shout on God’s holy Mountain!
Everyone will be afraid, God’s Judgement is on its way,
the Day of the Lord is almost here.

It’ll be a day like we’ve never seen – a day of dark and gloom,
clouds and darkness!
Shadows will spread over everything as a huge army comes,
          one like there has never or will never be.

But it’s not too late, God calls to each of us:
“Come back to me, come fasting, crying, and sorry for
your sins!”

Tear your hearts, not just your clothes. Come back to your
          God because God is compassionate, merciful, patient,
          loving, and ready to forgive.

Blow the horn, demand a fast, call special services;
Gather everyone in and prepare them for a special meeting!

Bring everyone in: the elderly and the young, even infants, even men and women on their honeymoon—do what it takes to get them there, let them say, “Have mercy, O God, on us
         your people!”

submitted by Rev. Will Ryan, First Christian Church Burlington IA

Invitation to the Table based on Matthew 6:7-13

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We gather at this table
not for God’s benefit but for our own.
We recall the story of salvation,
because we are the ones who need to know it again.
Remember, beloved, the goodness of the One
who day by day calls the world into being;
who life by life calls humanity into loving relationship;
who is always and everywhere faithful.
Rejoice, children of God, in the life of Jesus Christ,
who is born into our lives;
who teaches us the way of righteousness;
who walks with us through the gates of suffering and death;
who is our resurrection life.
Gather at this table
to share in these gifts of bread and cup;
to receive the Holy Spirit;
to be made new and united with all God’s people,
the redeemed of every time and place.
At this table and in all our lives,
Jesus is yet with us – even to the end of the age.

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord!
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

With thanks and praise, we trust that God knows all our needs.
There is nothing else to say,
so let us join in the prayer Jesus taught:
The Lord’s Prayer

 

Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA

Confession: we don’t want to understand

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Holy God, we like to claim that your way is mysterious and we are uncertain how to follow. We confess that we don’t want to understand the fast that you choose. You call us to loose the bonds of injustice, to let prisoners free, to break every yoke, to bring the homeless into our house, to feed our neighbours and pray for our enemies. We make it sound like a difficult metaphor so we don’t have to act on your word, because we don’t like to be uncomfortable. Forgive our apathy, our wilful ignorance, our false modesty, and our unexamined privilege. Create in us a clean heart, and lead us into a Holy Lent…and beyond, to abundant life for all your creation. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

 

Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson

CTW: return to the Lord

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Leader: God’s call rings out through the world, God’s message to us.
People: God calls us to come back, to fast and weep, and ask for forgiveness.
Leader: We need to change our entire lives, what is inside of us, not just outside.
People: For our God is loving and compassionate.
Leader: We enter this season of Preparation by returning to the LORD.
All: Together, let us sound the trumpet and worship God!
submitted by Rev. Will Ryan, First Christian Church Burlington IA