Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2024 — 7:00 PM Service

PRELUDE
“Sonata No. 3- Adagio” (G. F. Handel)
Rachel Calvert, Tim Graf

WELCOME

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
who creates us,
redeems us,
and calls us by name.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Gracious God,
have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.

HYMN
“I Lay My Sins on Jesus”

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Eternal God, your love stretches to the ends of the earth, over barbed wire fences and through contested airspace. Your love knits together our public and private lives. Your love is for all people, in all places, at all times. Teach us to make sense of this hopeful message in the midst of pain and grief. Empower us to bear witness to your illimitable love, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

READINGS
Psalm 51:1-2, 10-12

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. 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.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Acts 1:6-11

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SERMON
“Altered in Witness”

OFFERING

OFFERING OF MUSIC
“Mercy Still” (Heather Sorenson)
Canticle Choir, Larry Bach (Director), Rachel Calvert, Catherine Woods, Jodi Edstrom

OFFERING PRAYER
O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES

MUSIC DURING THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES
“Agnus Dei” (Tim Graf)
Bruce Broquist, Josh Eidem, Tim Graf, Rachel Calvert

“The Lord’s My Shepherd” (arr. Malcolm Archer)
Bruce Broquist, Tim Graf

“There is a Balm in Gilead” ELW # 614

PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER

INVITATION TO LENT

BLESSING
“The Lord Bless You and Keep You” (John Rutter)
Canticle Choir

SENDING:
Marked with the cross of Christ, go forth to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE
“I Lay My Sins On Jesus”
Rachel Calvert, Tim Graf

The Musicians for Today’s Worship

Tim Graf (Director of Worship & Music)
Larry Bach (Director)
Rachel Calvert
Catherine Woods
Jodi Edstrom
Josh Eidem
Bruce Broquist
Canticle Choir

Prayers

As a community of faith we are connected through joy, sorrow, worship, and prayer. Please pray for the people listed below.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

We ask for God’s loving embrace to hold all those who mourn, especially:

Jason Schultz, Jen Cater & family on the death of Lou Schulz
Meggy Wagner and family on the death of her father, Reinhold
Prayers for Debbie Gelle and family on the death of her father Don Denike
Jeanne Aamot and family on the death of her mother, Nancy
Caleb Wragge, Kathy, Kari, Gary Blackford and family on the death of Marilyn Kramme
Gabrielle Sybilrud and family on the death of Gabrielle’s mother, Mary Kahman
Gwen Chapman and family on the death of her stepfather, Len Prahl
Prayers for Deb and Roger Supalla and family on the death of their nephew, Brian Sommers

Prayers of Mourning:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Psalm 130:1–2
For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die’. John 11:25–26

As we are praying for all members of the St. Andrew community, this week we pray especially for God’s comfort, healing, protection, and strength to be present with:

Prayers for Ralph and Mary Hanson’s son Kristopher
Darlene our wonderful cook at Spirit in the pines who has surgery coming up
Andrew Pick
Delores Cornelius
Ron Bergom
Gabe Perez
Delia Tufte
John Rostad’s father, Mike
Stephanie Berg’s son-in-law, Zach

Long Term Prayers:

Gordon Gilbert
Kathy Hoagland
Dave & Sherri Anderson’s daughter, Sarah Anderson-Jacobson
Ron Wolfbauer
Dick Smith
Tammi Ziesemann as she continues her cancer treatment
For the people of Haiti enduring ongoing political upheaval, severe economic challenges, and gang-related violence.
For the people of the Middle East and Ukraine – non-violence and peace.
All those in the military serving our country

General Prayers:

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:22a
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Names will remain listed for three weeks unless otherwise requested. To add a name to the prayer list, click Prayer Requests or contact Pastor Peter Johnson.