Ash Wednesday

ASH WEDNESDAY

BULLETIN

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CONNECT CARD

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WELCOME TO WORSHIP | Ash Wednesday | february 14, 2024

a diverse, inclusive church experiencing and reflecting the love, hope and joy of Jesus Christ

to each other and our community.

PRELUDE
Nearer, My God to Thee | arr. Lowell Mason
Chuck Stanley, organ

WELCOME

Pastors David McEntire and Peytyn Tobin

WAYS TO CONNECT | christchurchfl.org/ways2connect

Please see below.

CALL TO WORSHIP | Connie Bookholt, liturgist

Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.

God’s mercy endures forever.

In God’s mercy, we are cleansed of our sins.

Every failing is wiped away, and we are made new in God’s sight.

We come to mark the beginning of the season of Lent.

We come to remember our brokenness through ashes and prayer.

May God’s love and mercy be upon today.

Let us renew ourselves as we worship together. Amen.

* GATHERING HYMN

Lord who throughout These Forty Days | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 269 (verse 1,2,4,5)
A Lord, who throughout these forty days, for us did fast and pray.
Teach us with you to mourn our sins, and close by you to stay.

As you with Satan did contend, and did the victory win,
O give us strength in you to fight, in you to conquer sin.

And through these days of penitence, and through your passiontide,
Yea, evermore, in life and death, Jesus with us abide.

Abide with us, that so this life of suffering over past,
an Easter of unending joy we may attain at last.

* OPENING PRAYER

Gracious and merciful God, as we gather in your presence, we acknowledge our faults and shortcomings, and we seek your forgiveness for the times we have strayed from your path. Thank God for your unending love and mercy. As we begin this season of fasting and prayer, guide us to turn from distractions and worldly desires and focus our hearts and minds on you. Grant us the wisdom to discern your will and the courage to follow where you lead. May this time of penitence, fasting, and prayer draw us closer to you, and may it transform our hearts to be more like yours. Amen.

MUSIC MINISTRY
Lord Have Mercy | Steve Merkel
Jesus I've forgotten

The words that You have spoken

Promises that burned within my heart

Have now grown dim

With a doubting heart I follow

The paths of earthly wisdom

Forgive me for my unbelief

Renew the fire again

Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy

Lord have mercy on me

Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy

Lord have mercy on me

I have built an altar

Where I've worshipped things of man

I have taken journeys

That have drawn me far from you

Now I am returning

To your mercies ever flowing

Pardon my transgressions

Help me love you again

I have longed to know you

And all your tender mercies

Like a river of forgiveness

Ever flowing without end

So I bow my heart before you

In the goodness of Your presence

Your grace forever shining

Like a beacon in the night

Lord have mercy Lord have mercy on us

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE | Pastor Monique McBride

Today we take the first dusty steps of Lent. Though we walk these steps each year, we do not know where they will take us.

Give us faith on this journey of uncertainty.

Today we humbly ask for your grace for our stumbles and missteps. We thank you for this Lenten opportunity to redirect, repent, recalibrate, and renew.

Give us forgiveness on this journey of uncertainty.

Today we acknowledge our need to be in control, to be in the driver’s seat of our lives. Help us to release our worries, our need to be in charge, and to know all that lies ahead.

Give us peace from our worries on this journey of uncertainty.

Today we remember that life is fragile, fleeting, and finite. Let us not miss a moment of our opportunity to live a life of love.

Give us resurrection for our mortality on this journey of uncertainty.

Today we walk with purpose in the footsteps you have taken before us. Guide our journey. Lead us toward your love even when we are not sure where it will lead us. When we are feeling especially uncertain, give us courage and self- control to follow you each step of the way.

Give us faith, assurance, and obedience as we embrace this journey of uncertainty.

SCRIPTURE
Mark 9:14-29

¹⁴ When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵ When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.

¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” ¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; ¹⁸ and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.”

¹⁹ He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” ²⁰ And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. ²² It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” ²³ Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.”

²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” ²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”

²⁶ After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. ²⁸ When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” ²⁹ He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”

These are the words of God for us, the people of God. Thanks be to God.

MESSAGE
Embracing the Uncertain | Faith for the Journey | Pastor David McEntire

INVITATION TO THE OBSERVANCE OF LENTEN DISCIPLINE

THANKSGIVING OVER THE ASHES

IMPOSITION OF ASHES

NAILING OF OUR SINS TO THE CROSS

CONFESSION AND PARDON
Blessing the Dust | A Blessing for Ash Wednesday

All those days

you felt like dust,

like dirt,

as if all you had to do

was turn your face

toward the wind

and be scattered

to the four corners

or swept away

by the smallest breath

as insubstantial—

Did you not know

what the Holy One

can do with dust?

This is the day

we freely say

we are scorched.

This is the hour

we are marked

by what has made it

through the burning.

This is the moment

we ask for the blessing

that lives within

the ancient ashes,

that makes its home

inside the soil of

this sacred earth.

So let us be marked

not for sorrow.

And let us be marked

not for shame.

Let us be marked

not for false humility

or for thinking

we are less

than we are

but for claiming

what God can do

within the dust,

within the dirt,

within the stuff

of which the world

is made,

and the stars that blaze

in our bones,

and the galaxies that spiral

inside the smudge

we bear.

–Jan Richardson

MOMENT OF SILENCE

THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

OFFERING
worshiping through the offering of our lives and gifts.

· Place offerings in the plates or wooden boxes

· Give online at christchurchfl.org/give

· Text GIVE to 954.880.3885

· Mail a check to Christ Church, 4845 NE 25^th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Christ Church is a congregationally supported ministry. We thank you for your faithfulness as we reflect the love, hope and joy of Jesus to our community.

MUSIC MINISTRY

Lenten Meditation | Jay Althouse
Chancel Choir
Jesus Christ, my savior lived for me, and died, source of my salvation, yet was crucified. Peace that knows no measure: this by faith I see. Love that knows no ending; Jesus died for me. Lord, O Lord, we renew our commitment these forty nights and days. And, Lord by your grace help us change our sinful ways. Hear me now, Lord Jesus: I will never stray. I will never wander. Hear me, as I pray: free me now from darkness. Cleanse me now from sin. Pardon my transgressions. Make me pure within.

CLOSING COMMITMENT

Nothing but the Blood | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 362 (verse 1,2,3,4)
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

(refrain) O precious is the flow that makes me bright as snow;

no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see: nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my cleansing this my plea: nothing but the blood of Jesus. (refrain)

Nothing can for sin atone: nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Naught of good that I have done: nothing but the blood of Jesus. (refrain)

This is all my hope and peace: nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my righteousness: nothing but the blood of Jesus. (refrain)

Robert Lowry | words: & music public domain | CCLI License # 487103

* SENDING FORTH

Please depart in silence.

* please stand in body or spirit.

Join us Saturday, February 17, at 7pm for Café Worship, a night of music and artistry. Invite your friends and neighbors to hear Christ Church musicians and University of Miami Strings players join forces for an evening of spoken and musical artistry, as a local artist paints. The evening is free. Learn more about the concert series at christchurchfl.org/concerts

Join us Sunday, February 18, at 9am and 11am, when we continue the Lent series Embracing the Uncertain with the message Forgetting , based on Philippians 3:12-16.

WAYS TO CONNECT | christchurchfl.org/ways2connect

HOLY GROUNDS COFFEE TIME is open Sundays before the 9am and 11am services. Join us in the gym lobby for conversation and coffee.

TIME WITH THE PREACHER sunday | 10am | fellowship halls 1&2 Time with the Preacher is an opportunity to go deeper into the day’s message at 10am Sundays. During Lent, Time with the Preacher will follow on the book behind our message series, Embracing the Uncertain, by Rev. Magrey deVega. Whether you worship at 9am or 11am, you’re sure to learn from and enjoy the comments and insights. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask questions. Holy Grounds, the coffee area outside the kitchen window, will be open, so grab a cup of coffee and join us.

CONNECT CARDS We want to connect with you. Please fill out a Connect Card and tell us how we can pray with you and help you be part of the ministries you’re called to. We’d love to hear your ideas also. You’ll find the Connect Card at christchurchfl.org/connectcard .

PLEDGE

FOR THE 2024 BUDGET Christ Church is called to do great things! Answering that call takes all of us. In the coming days you will receive a letter and information on how to pledge your resources to Christ Church for this year. Our theme is Grow in Grace, Grow in Giving to acknowledge that the only reason to give is that we are thankful for God’s gift of grace. When you receive your letter, you will also receive a pledge card. We will return our pledge cards on Sunday, February 25, in worship. If you would like to pledge online, please go to christchurchfl.org/pledge

SERVE

ANTI-RACISM TASK FORCE sunday | march 3 | 12:15pm Gather with the Anti-Racism Task Force after the 11am worship service to talk about future events and opportunities to participate. Questions? Send an email to artf@christchurchfl.org

MORE THAN CONQUERORS PRAYER GROUP sunday | march 3 | 11am | fellowship halls Bring joys and concerns of your life, our community and our world to the feet of Jesus with others who are devoted to intercessory prayer. Feel free to attend to receive or share in prayer. The group gathers in the Fellowship Halls to share and pray about our collective joys and concerns. All are invited. This group meets the first Sunday of each month after Time with the Preacher and before the Anti-Racism Task Force meeting. For more information, send an email to info@christchurchfl.org

SERVE BREAKFAST ON SUNDAY MORNINGS Every Sunday morning at 9am, a community breakfast is shared by about 40 friends and neighbors on the Parkway Campus. Volunteers are needed to help prepare, serve, share and clean-up on Sundays, between 7:30am and 10:30am. If you can help only part of that time, that's OK too. The Parkway Campus is located at 100 NE 44th Street, Deerfield Beach.

SHARE YOUR MUSICAL TALENTS The Christ Church music ministry invites you to share your musical talents. Instrument players as well as vocalists are invited to contact Jason Campbell, director of music ministry, at jcampbell@christchurchfl.org

LEAD MORNING PRAYERS weekdays | 7:30am | on Facebook The Christ Church family gathers weekday mornings at 7:30am for prayers, and we could use your help as a leader of this livestream on Facebook. If you would like to do this, the pastors will show you how. Just send an email to Pastor Peytyn, ptobin@christchurchfl.org

LOVE IN ACTION FORT LAUDERDALE Volunteers are needed to help prepare meatloaf dinners in the Fort Lauderdale Campus kitchen. The meals are prepared the first Thursday of each month. month. The team works 2-4pm to prepare the meal, which is served at Hope Central, 1100 N. Andrews Ave. If you can help, please send an email to info@christchurchfl.org

BLESSINGS FOOD PANTRY NEEDS TRUCK DRIVER The Blessings Food Pantry, a Christ Church ministry, needs a volunteer truck driver on Monday and Wednesday mornings. This volunteer drives a church truck to two Publix stores within 10 miles of the Parkway campus. At each store, they get paperwork signed by a store employee, and load and unload boxes that can weigh up to 60 pounds. There will be help to unload the truck when it arrives at the Parkway Campus. The route starts at 7am and lasts until about 10am those two days. Volunteers for this role need to pass a church background check, provide a current driver's license, and pass a short driving test with Mike Gartland, facilities director. If you are interested in volunteering in this way, please contact Mike Gartland, mgartland@christchurchfl.org .

JOIN THE WELCOME TEAM  Do you enjoy greeting your church family and welcoming guests? The Welcome Team would be a great place for you to serve. Welcome Team members also help serve communion and collect the offering. Some welcome team members also serve as ushers and greeters for memorial services and other special events. Linda Bajkowsky coordinates the team and would love your help. Serving with the Welcome Team is a great way to get to know your church family. Sign up at christchurchfl.org/serve

BE PART OF THE WORSHIP TECH TEAM  Put your tech skills to work for God. If you would like to be part of the team that helps run the cameras and visuals for worship, send an email to info@christchurchfl.org

CONNECT

SHARED MEALS You are invited to share a meal and community twice a week on the Parkway Campus. On Wednesday at 5pm, a shared dinner is served to all who come. On Sunday at 9am, breakfast is shared. All are invited to enjoy great conversation over lovingly prepared food.