Ash Wednesday Multi-Media Service 2011

"A Journey Through Lent"

A complete multi-media Ash Wednesday Service with everything you need!

The Video Meditation:

The video meditation is included in the download
(Windows Media Export and Quick-Time format)

Download also includes PowerPoint Presentation (a slide for each reading):

Service Outlines of two complete Ash Wednesday Services:
(printable documents included in download, MS Word and Open Office formats)

The following Sermons and Children's Sermons are included:

Sermons:

• The Cross of Ashes, various Scriptures
  by Rev. Melinda Harwood    (see excerpt below)
   
• Why Are You Doing That?  Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18
  by  David Rogne
   

• Create in me a clean heart  Psalm 51
  by Rev. Thomas Hall
   

Children's Messages:

• "Sorry" a children's sermon on the meaning of Ash Wednesday
   

• The Book Without Words,  based on Psalm 51

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Excerpt:

The Cross of Ashes
a sermon based on various Scriptures
by Rev. Melinda Harwood

Today is Ash Wednesday: the first day of the penitent season of Lent. The accurate name is "The Day of Ashes” not "Ash Wednesday". The reference to ashes comes from the ceremony of placing ashes on the forehead in the shape of the cross as a sign of penitence. Pope Gregory I, who was Bishop of Rome 7th century A.D, introduced this custom.

Gardeners know that ashes can be used to help grow plants. But basically ashes are worthless. In fact they are often less than worthless - they are a hindrance and a liability. You can't make ashes pretty by painting them, and you can't make ashes smell good by spraying perfume on them. Ashes are just ashes.

And so it is with us - people are just people. When all is said and done, no matter how much righteous paint we cover ourselves with, no matter how much virtuous perfume we spray on ourselves, we are left with our thoughts and feelings and actions that aren’t always our best .
So why do we bother tonight smearing ashes on our foreheads? Why do we gather and remember what we are on Ash Wednesday?

The answer is that while we gather to remember who we are, more importantly we also gather to remember who God is - and what God has done for us in and through Jesus Christ.
The Bible has a number of references about ashes. The first comes in Genesis 18:27. Abraham is bargaining with God to spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he suddenly realizes that he, a mere mortal, has been speaking to almighty God . . . .

Download also includes a printable bulletin for Ash Wednesday ( Adobe pdf format)