Ash Wednesday

February 14, 2024 | 7:30pm

Rev. Jeremy Campbell, Guest Minister | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music

GATHERING

Welcome

Prelude: Lamb of God | Paris

Call to Worship

Votum

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Amen

Opening Sentences

We come to God with full and prayerful hearts.

We yearn to turn to God.

We mark on our foreheads our need for grace,

giving thanks and praise for mercy.

Hear our call to be in your will, O God.

Salutation

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Amen.

*Hymn of Praise: If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

Create in us a clean heart, O God,

And put a new and right spirit within us.

Cast us not away from your presence,

and restore in us the joy of your salvation.

From dust we came and to dust we shall return.

While we are here, O God, forgive us of our sins,

and teach us to use every minute from our birth to our grave

for the glory of your reign.

Silent Confession

Assurance of Pardon

Even now the Lord says,

Return to me with all your heart.

God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,

abounding in steadfast love.

Thanks be to God for this unimaginable grace.

The Law of God: Micah 6:8

THE WORD OF GOD

Prayer for Illumination

Prepare our hearts, O God, to accept your Word. Silence in us any voice but your own, that hearing, we may also obey your will. Amen.

First Reading: Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Hymn: Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive

Gospel Reading: Isaiah 58:1–12

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Sermon: "Is this not the fast that I choose?" | Rev. Campbell

Silent Reflection

THE RESPONSE TO GOD

*Affirmation of Faith

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer

As we prepare to receive the ashes, let us pray

Almighty God,
you have created us out of the dust of the earth.
May these ashes be a sign of our mortality and penitence.
and a reminder that only by your gracious gift are we given everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. - John Paarlberg

Imposition of Ashes

Those who desire to receive ashes are invited to come forward. The minister will sign you with ashes saying, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust shall you return.” After you’ve received the ashes, please return to your seat.

Congregational Reading: Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.

  Indeed, I was born guilty,
  a sinner when my mother conceived me.
  You desire truth in the inward being;
  therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
  Let me hear joy and gladness;
  let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
  and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
   and put a new and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

In Jesus’ Name, we pray as you taught us…

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.

SENDING

Hymn: When Peace Like a River

Benediction

Postlude: Create in Me a Clean Heart | Bradimore

If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee.jpg

DEAR FRIENDS

Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.

If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.

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FOOD PANTRY NEWS

Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!

Mark your calendars now to pick up these important items
and bring to church by the dates listed:

Sunday, February 19 - gallon(s) whole milk

Sunday, February 26 - eggs

Sunday, March 5 - gallon(s) whole milk

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.

CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED