Home Church Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021, Rev. Karen Hollis 10:00am

Home Church Ash Wednesday February 17, 2021 Rev. Karen Hollis

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

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free. Today we are learning about the Missional stream from Janet Gear’s Theological Banquet. You will hear this theology through the words of the liturgy, the scriptures, songs and sermon. This is the theological stream that offers God’s love to the world in practical ways, like feeding and clothing people.

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite

you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.

Words of Welcome: The bell is sounded three times

Here in our homes, gathered in this space, you draw us to this sacred time, O God. We come to dwell in your presence, for you are the source of our being.

Silence

God calls us to renew ourselves and our life’s purpose, as we gather with others who are searching for meaning. Let us be in silence together. 

                                                                                                                       J Hugge

Silence

 

Preparing the Space: Light the candles

Be still and know that I am God

Be still and know that I am

Be still and know that I

Be still and know that

Be still and know

Be still and

Be still

Be

Opening Prayer     Lancelot Andrewes (1555-1626), edited
Essence beyond essence, Nature increate, Framer of the world, we see you before us, and we lift up our souls to you. We worship you on our knees, and humble ourselves in your presence. Amen

Hymn: I Heard the Voice of Jesus VU #626

1 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"Come unto me and rest;

lay down, O weary one, lay down

your head upon my breast."

I came to Jesus as I was,

weary and worn and sad;

I found in him a resting-place,

and he has made me glad.

 

2 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"Behold, I freely give

the living water; thirsty one,

stoop down, and drink, and live."

I came to Jesus, and I drank

of that life-giving stream;

my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,

and now I live in him.

 

3 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"I am this dark world's light;

look unto me, your morn shall rise;

and all your day be bright."

I looked to Jesus, and I found

in him my star, my sun;

and in that light of life I'll walk

till travelling days are done.

First Reading: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17   Owen McCooey

Listen to the word of God to you this morning …

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near- a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come. Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep. Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

Gospel Reading

One:    God be with you.        

All:      And also with you

One:    The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

All:      Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21   Lisa Griffith

"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

One:  This is the Gospel of Christ.   

All:    Praise be to Jesus Christ      

Reflection:   Ash for the World (sermon attached)

Silent Reflection

Video: Dust We Are and Shall Return    The Work of the People

Letting Go

As we stand at the doorway of Lent, let us spend a few moments in reflection about the current state and shape of our lives… reflect on how you are doing in these covid days. Let us reflect on how God is present in our lives… in the midst of the raw beauty of life, God gifts us with open hands and opportunities to unburden ourselves. What do you need to let go as you walk into Lent?

You've brought with you a small piece of paper and pencil. Take a few moments now to write down what you want to lay before God. After the service you're invited to put that paper in the woodstove or safely burn it outside.

Organ Music: Dear Jesus I Am Here    J.S. Bach

We lay down what is past...
We lay down what is past and look to God.
We know in ourselves places of faith and opportunities for growth.
We reach beyond ourselves to where our faith meets the world.

We walk into this season of deepening, of transformation, of grace with our feet on the ground and our eyes open to your presence in and around us.

 

We come from dust and to dust we shall return. Everything we see and know is held in the balance of life by our creator, who is ever faithful to the continuity of life.

 

Invitation to Eucharist

God holds the space for us as we turn to the feast that is before us . . . and Christ is our invitation to come and be fed. We are tired and weary, and there is a long road ahead, so let us come to this feast for nourishment and fellowship. Come, all are welcome.

Holy Eucharist

Invitation to Thanksgiving:

     One: God be with you              All: And also with you

     One: Lift up your hearts           All: We lift them to God

     One: Let us give thanks to God most high                  

     All:   It is right to give God thanks and praise

Prayer of Great Thanksgiving

For the love we name Creativity God, and all that is. For the one we name Jesus and his message of peace, justice and inclusiveness
that is the realm of God. For the renewing strength and freedom of the Spirit always present on the breath of life. We give thanks for the presentness of God in the midst of life.

 

We remember the stories… how Jesus traveled from town to town, opening eyes, healing bodies, and teaching on the centrality of faith. He challenged all systems and all authorities and tested them against God’s law of love. In every time and space, Jesus makes God’s love real, and for that we praise him:

                                                   

Sanctus                                                                                         VU #934

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might;

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

Bless'd is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest!

 

So in our time and in this space, with the reality of today before us, let us continue the tradition: to break bread together. We remember what that tradition says...
At the end of a journey, among friends, gathered round a table...
Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it: 'This bread is broken, as my body will be'. And he handed it to his friends, and invited them to eat, saying: 'Remember all that I have been to you'.

Then Jesus poured a cup of wine, offered thanks for it, and gave it to his friends: ‘This wine is poured out as my life will be. As you drink give thanks for all I have given.’

Bread... the very stuff of life, in which is gathered up warm sun, rich earth, gentle rain, human labour and knowledge and skill. Wine... fruit of the vine, nurtured, tended, harvested, and pressed out for us to drink.

Acclamation     VU #935

Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again! 

Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!     

Bless these gifts with the presence of the Holy Spirit and bless us who have gathered here out of love for you, and strengthen us by these gifts to serve you in the world and share your love with everyone we meet.

Through Christ, with Christ and in Christ,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all glory and honour are your,

Almighty God, now and forever.

Amen

Breaking the Bread                                

We break this bread,

Communion in Christ’s body once broken.

The gifts of God for the people of God!

Thanks be to God!

Feed on Christ in your heart through faith with thanksgiving.

Thanks be to God.

Communion Hymn: I Need Thee Every Hour  VU #671

1 I need thee every hour,

most gracious Lord;

no tender voice like thine

can peace afford.

 

[Refrain:]

I need thee, O I need thee;

every hour I need thee;

O bless me now, my Saviour;

I come to thee.

 

2 I need thee every hour;

stay thou near by;

temptations lose their power

when thou art nigh. [Refrain]

 

3 I need thee every hour,

in joy or pain;

come quickly and abide,

or life is vain. [Refrain]

 

4 I need thee every hour;

teach me thy will;

and thy rich promises

in me fulfil. [Refrain]

 

Prayer After Communion

God is with us and within us. The Word is in our midst, seen as forgiveness known as costly love. May this love journey with us as we step into this season of Lent. Amen

 

Sharing The Peace
One:  The peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding

          be with you all
All:   And also with you!

Words of Blessing     J Huggett
Once-burnt and darkened hills now bloom in life of green and gold.
Once-starving hearts now fill with love more than enough to hold us in divine embrace. Once-thirsty souls now overflow into the rivers of God’s grace. The blessing of the God of life, love and grace be with you always Amen. May it be so.