Additional Scriptures

Psalm 51:1–17; Joel 2:1–2, 12–17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10 

Prepare

For the Moment of Reflection distribute note cards, writing utensils, and envelopes to each participant.  

Prelude

Welcome and Invitation

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, a time of deep inner reflection on one’s relationship with God. Patterned after Jesus’s life, we spend 40 days in contemplation and meditation. Lent is a time to examine honestly who we are, who God is calling us to become, and the distance between those two positions as we consider what it means to be a disciple. Lent also connects the Christian community across diverse traditions and denominations. Ash Wednesday invites people to this intensely personal, yet communal, journey to the cross, resurrection, and new life in Christ. 

 Hymn to Begin the Journey 

“Come and Find the Quiet Center” CCS 151 

OR “In the Crossroads of This Moment” CCS 170 

Invocation

Response

Moment of Confession

Print or project these words for silent meditation: We have let ourselves become other than God intends. 

Scripture Reading

Psalm 51:10–12 

Hymn of Supplication

“I Need Thee Every Hour” CCS 188 

OR “It’s Me, It’s Me, O Lord” CCS 208 

Scripture Reading

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21  

Ministry of Music or Community Hymn

“Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ”   CCS 182 

OR “Be Thou My Vision”   CCS 167 

Homily

Based on Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21 

This short proclamation focuses on the nature of Lent: an intense and honest inner exploration free from posturing, extravagance, and appearances. Taking part in Lent is not to show off how religious we are. It is about spending time in prayer with God in the “desert” of our interior lives for the sake of our relationship with God, which is the supreme reward or treasure in itself. 

Moment of Reflection 

Often Lent is associated with fasting—giving up something of significance to be more prayerfully attentive to God. During the fast, we remember our baptism and commitment to follow Jesus. We identify in our lives what is getting in the way of truly being a disciple and we repent or ask for forgiveness. We spend 40 days returning to God, in our call as disciples of Jesus. 

Invite participants to reflect on the current state of their spiritual lives and their relationships with God, others, and creation. Ask them to ponder who God is calling them to become and how Lent might be part of that journey. What are their hopes for Lent? What do they need to give up? Have each person write their reflections on a note card and place the card in an envelope to refer to throughout the season. Encourage everyone to be as honest as they can. Responses will NOT be shared with others. Responses are meant to be a private reflection in the spirit of the text. Provide soft music as a background for this reflection time. 

Lenten Hymn

“Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley” CCS 452 

OR “Spirit Fill Us” CCS 160 

Focus Moment

Ash Wednesday Ashes 

A symbol for this important day is ashes. There are many Old Testament examples of those in sinful confession using ashes to display their uncleanness before God. In the early church, sinners were singled out to wear ashes all day. Somewhere around the 10th century, the realization that we are all sinners led to the use of ashes by all disciples as a reminder of their humanness and the need to repent. Ashes may or may not speak to you as a symbol. As the bowl of ashes is passed through the participants, you may choose to rub ash on your hands or forehead. Or you may place a small amount of ash in the palm of your hand as a visual reminder of this sacred experience. Or you may just want to view the ashes as they pass by. Do whatever is comfortable for you.  

Traditionally the ashes come from burning the dried palm leaves from the prior year. Without these ashes, be sure to use ashes that have no contaminant or dangerous matter. In some traditions water or oil are used with the ashes to help them adhere to the skin. Play soft music while passing the ashes. 

Pastoral Prayer for Peace

Light the peace candle. 

Prayer 

Focus this prayer on our yearning for inner peace as well as those around the world who have no peace. 

 Closing Hymn

“Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather” CCS 335 

OR “Lead Me, Lord”  sing several times  CCS 450 

OR “When We Are Tested” CCS 453 

Sending Forth

Doctrine and Covenants 162:3a 

As you leave, there will be a basket to receive your offerings. Let us be generous for the sake of others in need. 

Postlude

Gathering

Welcome

The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday, an ancient holy day in the Christian calendar. In scripture, ashes signify grief, sin, and human mortality as well as joy, forgiveness, and victory over death. Christians often wear a smudge of ashes on the first day of Lent to symbolize repentance. The ashes traditionally are created by burning palm branches used in Palm Sunday celebrations the previous year. 

Prayer for Peace

Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.

Gracious God,

We journey as individuals and as a faith community.
We journey from the temptations in our wilderness of the worldly images of power,

success, exclusion, and hierarchy of worth.

We journey in confession…
We are weak and easily lured by these worldly images.

We sometimes serve our self-desire to achieve these images even when it hurts your creation and children.

We journey in repentance… Forgiveness…
And your grace.

We journey toward…
A call to sacrifice these images of cultural norms.

The challenge to stand against worldly culture and to embrace your culture. The invitation to be co-creators of your vision of shalom for the world…

Where power comes in the form of a baby.
Where success hangs on a cross and breaks free from the tomb.

Where walls of exclusion turn to dust and inclusion for all is the norm.

Where hierarchy of worth is equalized, and each person experiences worth and the worth of all others.

We journey with thankful hearts for… The call to sacrifice,
The challenge to take a stand,

And the invitation to be co-creators with you and one another of a new world of shalom.

We journey in trust that you will give us what we need to make this journey…

Strength

Courage

Endurance

Wisdom

Compassion

Unconditional love

We journey to rebirth as embodying the Living Christ in your world in whose name we pray. Amen.

—Stassi Cramm

Spiritual Practice

Practice of Silence

Practicing silence may be difficult at first. The mind may run wild. Allow yourself grace in this practice. We will begin when I ring the chime. We will be silent for five minutes. I will ring the chime again at the conclusion of our time of silence.

Remember to breathe deeply. Focusing on each breath can help quiet the mind. Become aware of your surroundings; notice how the air feels on your skin; trust that you are in the presence of the holy—fully surrounding and embracing you. Allow your inner conversations to stop for a while, being fully present with the One who is fully present with you.

Ring a chime to begin.

Wait five minutes.

Ring the chime to conclude the period of silence.

Ask: How does it feel to be present with God in silence?

—Adapted from a Guide for Lent

Sharing Around the Table

Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18 NRSVue

“Beware of practicing your righteousness 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 somber, like the hypocrites, for they mark their faces 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.

Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season. Lent is the 40-day period before Easter appointed for reflection and building stronger relationships with the Divine, as individuals and communities. Ash Wednesday and Lent feature a call to repentance—a renewed turning toward God so our relationships may be genuine.

The three topics addressed in the reading are almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. These three were basic spiritual practices.

Jesus asks his disciples to reflect on their motivation for engaging in these disciplines. The Greek word for “hypocrite” also referred to an actor on stage. By using this word, Jesus challenges his hearers to avoid turning spiritual disciplines into public performances. The purpose should not be to draw attention from peers. Instead, these practices are in response to God’s grace and generosity.

When done sincerely, these spiritual practices advance our formation as disciples, as well as Christ’s mission. This would not happen if done merely to impress a naïve audience. Actors might fool audiences. Hypocrites might fool peers. By suggesting that these spiritual practices should be performed for God’s purposes, Jesus challenges disciples to be sincere and to engage fully. God will not be fooled. God understands our true capacity and calls us to an ever-deeper self-examination. The question is not as much about whether these acts should be done in public as it is about whether we still would do them if we knew we did not have an audience (www.CofChrist.org/worship-resources-01-march-2017).

Questions

1. What has your experience been with spiritual practices? What helps you stay sincere with your practices?
2. What might it look like this Lent to lean into practices that deepen your relationship with God rather than your reputation with others? How do you hope to spend time during Lent drawing closer to God?

Sending

Generosity Statement

Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint.

—Doctrine and Covenants 163:9

The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response.

The offering prayer for Lent is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:

Ever-present God, Forgive us when we are less than loving, less than hope-filled, less than you have created us to be. Your mercy and grace are always with us. May we find strength in your presence, and may we respond to your love with generous spirits. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

CCS 450 “Lead Me, Lord”

Closing Prayer

Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Communion Scripture

Choose one scripture to read from this selection: 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–39.

Communion Statement

All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

In preparation, let’s sing from Community of Christ Sings 519, “In the Singing.”

Blessing and serving bread and wine.

Thoughts for Children

Materials: bowl with pieces of dark-colored chalk

Today is the first day of the season of Lent. It’s called Ash Wednesday. Lent is when we remember that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, preparing to begin his ministry. For Christians, Lent is a time to confess that as disciples we do not always do our best. Sometimes we make mistakes and need to be forgiven. Also, Lent is a time to reflect on the importance of forgiving others.

On Ash Wednesday, many Christians use ashes to make a small cross on their hand or forehead as a sign of repentance (repentance means to ask forgiveness and go a new or better way).

Today we can make a small cross on our hands using chalk. I will bring the bowl around the circle. Reach forward if you would like a small cross on the back of your hand.

With the chalk, gently draw a small cross on the back of each extended hand.

 When all who wish to have received a cross, offer a short prayer:

God of mercy and grace, accept our repentance and forgive our shortcomings. Be with us during this Lenten season. Amen.

Thank all for participating.

Option Two

Lesson: What is Lent?

Materials: strips of purple paper, tape

Lent is a season of 40 days (not counting Sundays!) celebrated each year in early spring. During Lent we focus on God and preparing for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter.

During the 40 days we focus on actions like prayer, caring for the poor, and helping others. Many people “give up” something for Lent to help them remember that Jesus gave his life for us. But during Lent you also can “take on” doing good things, just like Jesus did. You can pray, you help someone do their chores, or you can give money to help the poor.

Purple is a color used in churches during Lent. Purple reminds us that Jesus will sacrifice his life on the cross. We can wear purple as a way to remember Jesus and the season of Lent.

Instructions: After explaining Lent to the children ask if they would like to wear purple as a symbol of Lent. Use the paper strip as an armband, taping the ends together. Enlist other group members to help the children. Invite everyone in the group to wear a purple Lenten reminder.

When all have an armband, thank the children for participating.

Exploring the Scripture

Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season. Lent is the 40-day period before Easter appointed for reflection and building stronger relationships with the Divine, both as individuals and as communities. Ash Wednesday and Lent feature a call to repentance—a renewed turning toward God so our relationships may be genuine. Today’s text comes from the commonly called Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5—7).

Today’s reading skips what we call the Lord’s Prayer. The three topics addressed in the reading are almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. These three were basic spiritual practices of the Jews and, when this Gospel was written, may also have been considered fundamental to the Christian community.

Jesus assumes his disciples will engage in the basic spiritual practices, saying, “whenever you….” Jesus asks his disciples to reflect on their motivation for engaging in these disciplines. The Greek word hypokritēs or “hypocrite” in today’s passage, also referred to an actor on stage. By using this word, Jesus challenges his hearers to avoid turning spiritual disciplines into public performances. The purpose should not be to draw attention from peers. Instead, these practices are in response to God’s grace and generosity.

When done sincerely, these spiritual practices advance our formation as disciples, as well as Christ’s mission. This would not happen if they were done to merely impress a naïve audience. Audiences might be fooled by actors. Peers might be fooled by hypocrites. By suggesting that these spiritual practices should be performed for God’s purposes, Jesus challenges disciples to be sincere and to engage fully. God will not be fooled. God understands our true capacity and calls us to an ever-deeper self-examination. The question is not as much about whether these acts should be done in public as it is about whether we would still do them if we knew we did not have an audience.

The text is less about secrecy than it is about sincerity. We should work for the treasure that genuinely matters. Applause and admiration of friends will not last any more than money. Our motivation for engaging in good works and spiritual practices must be heavenly, not earthly. The passage ends with a hopeful promise. If we sincerely engage in these practices, our hearts will follow genuine treasure, and we will be drawn closer to others and to God and the divine purpose.

Central Ideas

1. The Lenten season is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal.
2. Spiritual practices like prayer and fasting are fundamental to our faith.
3. Spiritual practices help us respond to God’s grace and generosity.
4. Sincerely engaging in spiritual practices forms us as disciples, strengthened to engage in Christ’s mission.

Questions for the Speaker

1. How do members of the congregation give alms (charitable care for those who are poor)? What opportunities does your congregation provide for almsgiving?
2. What spiritual practices are helping to form you as a disciple?
3. How does the congregation collectively engage in spiritual practices?
4. What makes prayer sincere within worship and congregational life? What does your congregation do to teach prayer as a spiritual practice?
5. Consider fasting as a way to refocus on God’s justice (see Isaiah 58). How might members of the congregation or the congregation as a whole engage in sincere fasting?
6. Reflecting on our true capacity, what might we do as individuals or as a congregation, during the Lenten season, to become more sincere in our spiritual practices? In what spiritual practices might we engage during Lent so our hearts might draw closer to God?