Ash Wednesday 2016 – First Midweek Worship Service

Denise and I came up with the concept of visual markers for each Wednesday in Lent a few years ago after one of our Christian Spiritual Formation Certificate courses at Columbia Theological Seminary. We used the Wee Worship Book from Wild Goose Publishing of Iona (Iona Books) for the liturgy.
Week One or Ash Wednesday’s theme (Broken Hearts) initially had worshippers writing our sins on a piece of black paper and pinning them to a large cross in the sanctuary. This year, instead of the large cross, we used a smaller wooden Celtic Cross. And instead of the using black paper, we had the worshipers hold the stones, meditate on sin (how we missed the mark in serving and loving God), and then place them on the Communion Table where they wanted to. Following that, we received the imposition of ashes.

At the conclusion of the service, one candle was extinguished. The last candle will be extinguished at the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday service.

The focus Scripture Reading for Week One was Joel 2:12-14. “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?” (NRSV)

Each week I plan on posting a picture of the Communion Table with a picture of the new elements added and an explanation.