February 18, 2026 Ash Wednesday Evening Service 1st United Methodist, Elizabethton, TN

Описание: † GREETING (David Sparks-From the Book of Joel, alt.)
This is our focus for Lenten Season which begins this Ash Wednesday,
Repent and return to God.
As our faults and failures come home to us we need God’s mercy,
Because God is slow to anger and abounds in steadfast love.
Gather the people, assemble the aged, gather the children.”
We come before you, O God. Help us to be faithful.
† OPENING PRAYER
†HYMN, UMH 384 vs 1 & 4 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
GOSPEL READING Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
CALL TO CONFESSION Feasting on the Word Worship Companion
The prophet Joel cried out: Return to the Lord with all your heart,
With fasting, weeping, and mourning.
For God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Let us confess our sins and repent of all unrighteousness.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION David Sparks, alt.
God, when we see ourselves as better than anyone else,
Mark us with the ashes of repentance.
When we do not use the best of our abilities,
Mark us with the ashes of repentance.
When we are not open to the truth of your love for us and others,
Mark us with the ashes of repentance.
When we do not follow you when following you becomes difficult,
Mark us with the ashes of repentance.
EPISTLE READING 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
DECLARATION OF PARDON Nathan Nettleton
The Lord our God is kind and full of mercy,
Always ready to forgive and not punish.
Christ, by uniting with us and forgiving our sin,
Enabled us to share in the righteousness of God.
Having been reconciled to God and one another through Jesus Christ,
Our sins are forgiven!
Dwell in peace with God and one another.
Amen!
THANKSGIVING OVER THE ASHES
Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth.
Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality
and penitence,
So that we remember that we are given everlasting life
Only by your gracious gift.
IMPOSITION OF THE ASHES (William Loader)
Bless, O God, these ashes and those who receive them.
Let them be for us a reminder of our mortality,
a call to sincere repentance, and a testimony to your abundant
mercy in Jesus Christ.
Father, into your hands we commend ourselves.
Come, receive the sign of the cross.
†HYMN, UMH 395 vs 1 & 3 “Take Time to Be Holy”
†DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING

MUSIC SELECTION CREDITS
UMH 384 vs 1 & 4 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” Lyrics (Text): Written by Charles Wesley in 1747, public domain. Tune (BEECHER): composed by John Zundel in 1870, public domain.
UMH 395 vs 1 & 3 “Take Time to Be Holy” Lyrics (Text): Written by British layman William D. Longstaff around 1882. Tune (HOLINESS): Composed by George C. Stebbins in 1890. Public Domain