Download Ash Wednesday Meditations

BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Ash Wednesday Meditations
March 1, 2017
8:30 a.m.
Theme: The Virtue of Humility
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Worship Leader
Deacon Victor Anderson
Discussion Moderator:
Deacon Lorence Brown
Praise & Worship
[led by Praise Team]
Statement of Purpose
Leader: Sisters and Brothers, we have come together at the beginning of this Sacred
Season of Lent, with penitent, grateful and hopeful hearts.
We have come together with one common intent and purpose, to present
ourselves individually and collectively, with our shared need to examine,
consider and recommit our lives to our True and Living God – Father, Son and
Holy Spirit; not just for today, or for the season, but for all the days, months and
years of our life to come.
ALL:
Lord, today, in your mercy, grace and power, we are set to speak
truthfully of your goodness as we have never done before and as of now,
never to cease doing so, with the help of your Spirit.
We are set to listen to you keenly and discerningly as we have never done
before and as of ow, never to cease doing so, with the help of your Spirit.
We are set to have you shape and form our lives in and according to your
timing and your will as we have never done before, and as of now, never
to cease doing so, with the help of your Spirit.
Hymn - Meekness and Majesty
Meekness and majesty manhood and Deity
In perfect harmony the man who is God
Lord of eternity dwells in humanity
Kneels in humility and washes our feet
CHORUS: O what a mystery, Meekness and majesty
Bow down and worship
For this is your God, this is your God
2. Father's pure radiance, perfect in innocence
Yet learns obedience to death on a cross
Suffering to give us life, conquering through sacrifice
And as they crucify, - prays 'Father forgive'
3. Wisdom unsearchable God the invisible
Love indestructible In frailty appears
Lord of infinity, - stooping so tenderly
Lifts our humanity to the heights of His throne
[ Graham Kendrick]
Prayer
Welcome and Directions
1
Song -
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path.
When I feel afraid, and think I’ve lost my way,
still You’re there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear as long as You are near
Please be near me to the end.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet………
Scripture Reading
Psalm 118: 1-9
Song
Bless Thy Word unto our hearts and glorify Thy Name
Bless Thy Word unto our hearts and glorify Thy Name.
Glorify Thy Name, Lord, glorify Thy Name.
Bless Thy Word unto our hearts and glorify Thy Name.
Reflection
Humility and Gratitude
Deacon Denise Forrest
Brief Period of silence
Prayer together - Lord, help me to overcome periods of dryness and emptiness that so
often numb my mind and still my tongue from thanking you.
Song
Thanks, [thanks] thanks, [thanks] I give you thanks
For all you’ve done
I am so blessed, my soul is at rest
Lord, I give you thanks
[rept.]
Luke 16.27-31
Scripture Reading
Reflection
Humility and Listening
Deacon Glendon Brown
Brief Period of Silence
Prayer together: Lord, I can’t hear your word of guidance. I do not even know that I truly want to,
though I desperately need to. Lord, help me know that my need may overcome
my want.
Hymn
Speak, Lord in the stillness
1. Speak, Lord, in the stillness,
While I wait on Thee;
Hushed my heart to listen,
In expectancy.
3. For the words you give me
They are life indeed
Living bread from heaven
now my spirit feed.
2. Speak, O gracious Master,
In this quiet hour;
Let me see Thy face, Lord,
Feel your touch of power
4. Speak, your servant listens I await your word;
let me know your presence,
let your voice be heard!
5. Fill me with the knowledge
of your glorious will;
all your own good pleasure
in my life fulfil.
[Emily Crawford – Tune 65 65]
2
Think on these…..
1. There may have been a place for the term ‘humility’ in times past, but in today’s world it
is only of interest to those who care to study history, and is now generally of no
relevance. Discuss.
2. Humility refuses to be distracted by thoughts and worry, concerning how we shall
appear in the eyes of others it liberates, us simply to be faithful to God in Christ, no
matter what.
3. Humility is more about not thinking of yourself too much than not thinking too much of
yourself.
4. Humility admits and accepts personal limits and shortcomings without desiring to
making them other than what they are or blaming others, even God, for them. It finds a
rightful place for penitence and trust, which pride militates against.
Hymn -
Can we by searching find out God
1.
Can we by searching find out God
or formulate his ways?
Can numbers measure what he is
or words contain his praise?
3. Our boastfulness is turned to shame
our profit counts as loss,
when earthly values stand beside
the manger and the cross.
2.
Although his being is too bright
for human eyes to scan,
his meaning lights our shadowed world
through Christ, the Son of Man.
4. We there may recognize his light,
may kindle in its rays,
find there the source of penitence,
the starting-point for praise.
5. There God breaks in upon our search,
makes birth and death his own;
he speaks to us in human terms
to make his glory known.
[Elizabeth Cosnett: Tune – 86 86 CM]
Reflection
Humility and Patience
Rev Norman Mills
Brief Period of silence
Prayer together: Lord, I find that I am willing to wait upon whom and what I consider to be
worth waiting on. Nevertheless all too often I have no real time for you.
To linger in your presence I consider boring and a waste of time.
Lord, please forgive me. Teach me to know that my times are in your hand.
Song -
Be still my soul
1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on your side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change God faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; your best, your heavenly
friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2. Be still, my soul; your God will undertake
To guide the future as in ages past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still
blow,
The Christ who ruled them while He dwelt
below.
3
3. Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
[K von Schlegel: Tune: Finlandia]
Think on these
1. We must be prepared to:
a) Surrender to the certainty that the Creator knows the ways of life better than the
creature does. How much is this part of our Christian practice?
b) To discover that often life’s simplest aspects are more trustworthy to discern what God is
doing than its many complications. How open are you to this?
c) To learn to discern the difference between the kind of power that seeks to control us and
may need to be revisited, and the kind of power that transforms us and invites our loving
obedience, the discipline of discipleship calls us to this. How faithful have you been?
Song - Alleluia, Alleluia, for the Lord God Almighty reigns!
Alleluia, alleluia, for the Lord God Almighty reigns!
Alleluia, holy, holy are you Lord God Almighty,
Worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb
You are holy, holy are You, Lord God Almighty,
Worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb. Amen.
Epilogue
Rev Dr Burchel Taylor
Prayer
Lord, remembering the depth of your love to us, we repent of our half-hearted discipleship.
We have been called to deny ourselves:
forgive us for putting self-interest before the interest of your kingdom;
forgive us that Christ’s lordship in our hearts has been challenged by our ambition, our
appetites, our desires and our needs;
forgive us for not being self-forgetful in our care for other people.
Lord, we have been called to carry a cross:
forgive us for complaining when it has weighed heavily upon us;
forgive us that, having received so much, we have sacrifices so little;
forgive us for the limits we have set to Christian love;
forgive us that we have settled for mediocrity, resisting the fire and passion of Christ’s love
upon the cross.
Lord, accept our repentance and help us to put our lives right with the help of your Spirit.
In the make of Jesus Christ, sour Saviour and Lord. Amen.
4
Hymn
Your way, not mine, O Lord
1.
Your way, not mine, O Lord
whatever it may be;
lead me by your own hand,
choose out the path for me.
3. I dare not choose my life
I would not if I might.
O choose for me, my God;
your choice is sure and right.
2.
Smooth let it be or rough,
it will be still the best;
by winding paths or straight
it leads me to your rest.
4. Then fill my cup, O Lord,
according to your will,
with sorrow or with joy;
you choose my good or ill.
5. Not mine but yours the choice
in things both great and small!
for you shall be my guide,
my wisdom and my all.
[H Bonar: Tune -66 66]
Passing the Peace
(singing “Peace and Love”)
5