February 22, 2023 Ash Wednesday Rev. Sally Bullas, 10:00am

(An In-Person only service that starts at 10:00am)

Rev. Sally Bullas

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,you are welcome here!

Gathering Words:   

The invitation to the Lenten journey is about allowing ourselves to be drawn into the very heart of all that is Holy.  Being drawn into the Heart of Being is a call to return to our beginning, our essential selves, created from the dust of the earth.  To return to that original nature...the Creator’s first creation…is to become aware of what separates us from ourselves, from the Holy, and from the Creation to which we belong.     

One:  Lent is a time to take the time to let the power of our faith story             take hold of us,
All:    a time to let the events get up and walk around in us,

One:  a time to intensify our living in to Christ,

All:    a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts,

One:  a time to place our feet in the streets of Jerusalem

          or to walk along the sea and listen to his word,

All:    a time to touch his robe

One:  and feel the healing surge through us, a time to ponder and a             time to wonder…

All:    Lent is a time to allow a fresh new taste of the Holy!

Invitation to the Spirit:

Hymn: Spirit of the Living God                                                                  VU #376

1Spirit of the living God, fall a-fresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, fall a-fresh on me.

Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love.

2Spirit of the living God, move among us all;

make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:

humble, caring, selfless, sharing.

Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!

Lighting of the Christ Candle:

One:  We light the Christ Candle fully aware of our vulnerability and           need.
All:    The light of Christ’s love breaks in to fill our lives with love.
One:  Come, light of Christ, come into our lives, make us one in heart           and mind.

(Christ candle is lit)

Scripture Verse: Psalm 51:10                                    Reader Pat Armstrong

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, 

and put a new and right spirit within me.”

Responding to the Call of the Heart:  

One:  Create in me a clean heart, 
All:    open and receptive, so that I may embrace the many ways           you choose to visit my life.

One:  Create in me a clean heart, 

All:    cleared of the refuse of old battles with others and deadly           opposition with myself.

One:  Create in me a clean heart, 

All:    bathed from harsh thoughts, shame, and perfectionistic           tendencies, warmly welcoming others with the embrace of           nonjudgment.

One:  Create in me a clean heart, 

All:    brushed free of frantic busyness, so that I will have time to           dwell with you in the listening space of solitude and silence.

One:  Create in me a clean heart, 

All:    rinsed of the residue of false messages about my identity,           enabling my inner goodness and light to shine through all I           am and do.

One:  Create in me a clean heart, 

All:    cleansed of anxiety and lack of trust, restoring in me an           enduring faith in your abiding presence and unconditional           love.

One:  Create in me a clean heart, 

All:    scrubbed of racism and prejudice, drawing me toward all as      my sisters and brothers.

One:  Create in me a clean heart, 

All:    washed with your mercy and strengthened by your love,           helping me move beyond whatever  keeps me from union with  you.

Sung Response:  Nothing Can Trouble                                        VU #290 x4

          Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.

          Those who seek God shall never go wanting.

          Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.

          God alone fills us.       

Acknowledging the Invitation:  
                               (From “Gathering,” Bill Steadman and Catherine Somervile, adapted)

One:  We come, God.  We come as we are. 

All:    We can come in no other way.  

One:  Our hearts hold our joys, our burdens, our hopes, our dreams,

          our successes, and our failures.

All:    We come to meet you and have our hope renewed.  

One:  We come seeking life in all of its fullness.

 

Invocation of the Spirit:

Grant that these ashes may remind us of our mortality, but, more than that, may they remind us of the life toward which you call us.

 

(ashes are mixed with oil)

 

Bless these ashes.  Bless those who will receive them and carry them from this place into the world.  Amen.

 

Blessing with Ashes and Anointing:

Station One:    May God put a new and right spirit within you.  
                        

(ashes are applied)

 

Station Two:    Now is the time for God to create in you a clean and open heart.

(receive heart)

 

Raising the Heart of the Community:         

One:  You humble us, Holy One, but you will not leave us without hope.

All:    You call us to repent, but will not desert us as we make fresh beginnings.  

 

(pause for silent reflection)

 

One:  Creator God, who loved you in the beginning, loves you still.  

Be assured that this Spirit of Love stays with you, in all the twists and turns of life.

All:    We know Compassion’s peace; nothing can overturn it.

          Nothing!

One:  Thanks be to God!  Amen. 

 

Blessing:

May we travel through Lent in the power of Love.  

May we trust in the way of Jesus and walk in peace.  

May the blessing of the Spirit guide our every step. 

 

(Christ candle is extinguished)