Piety Practice

Gathered Up in Jesus

Ash Wednesday, Year C

Ash Wednesday is an observance built around the imposition of ashes and not on the proclamation of the Word. The worship team should make sure that the focus is on the ashes and the symbolism that is inherent in them. Even if you don’t actually apply them to the forehead or any part of the body, the ashes can still remind us of our mortality and our human sinfulness. This is essentially a call to the Lenten observance; therefore, it needs to take the center place.

The season of Lent this year centers on surrendering ourselves and allowing to be gathered up in Jesus as we journey through these forty days. It’s a time of introspection and reality checks, while we also hope for a future where we will be nurtured and held in the arms of Jesus. Jesus tells us how he wants to gather us up, like a mother hen gathers her brood. He wants us to claim him, to run to him, to be loved and cared for by him. But this is not to avoid the Lenten examination. Rather, it is to be able to endure it. Following are some ideas for music for this series to enhance and complement the readings. It’s a long worship series; and often it helps to have one or two theme songs that you can use in a variety of ways in worship to keep it interesting.

Abbreviations:

  • The Faith We Sing - TFWS
  • United Methodist Hymnal - UMH
  • Worship and Song - W&S

Theme Song Suggestions:

Service Music Suggestions:

  • “Jesu Tawa Pano” TFWS 2273
  • “On Eagle’s Wings” UMH 143
  • “Jesus, Remember Me” UMH 488

Ash Wednesday - Piety Practice

  • “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” UMH 269
  • “More Love to Thee, O Christ” UMH 453
  • “Lord of All Hopefulness” TFWS 2197
  • “Be Thou My Vision” UMH 451

In This Series...


Ash Wednesday, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes First Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Second Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Third Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Palm/Passion Sunday, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Maundy Thursday, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Good Friday, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes

Colors


  • Purple
  • Gray

In This Series...


Ash Wednesday, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes First Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Second Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Third Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Palm/Passion Sunday, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Maundy Thursday, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes Good Friday, Year C - Lectionary Planning Notes