Resources on Ash Wednesday

William H Wiggins Jr | African American Lectionary

Sermon Preparation or Illustration and 2 more types

William H. Wiggins, Jr. shares the following cultural resources to celebrate Ash Wednesday in the African American community: historical background, a prayer, the ritual of "Love Feasts," and three spirituals.

Psalm 51; Romans 7:14-25

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Humility, Sin, Confession

The Call Is Urgent

Dennis Olson | Working Preacher

Sermon Preparation or Illustration

A commentary on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17. The text calls us "to confess our sins, to remind ourselves of our mortality and frailty, and to hear the call to repentance or turning around from our sinful ways."

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Repentance, Sin, Fasting

An Acceptable Sacrifice

Bill Wessner | ConfessionRCL

Assurance of Pardon, Prayer of Confession

This resource contains a confession based on Psalm 51:1-17. The confession explores themes of sin, mercy, and God's love.

Psalm 51:1-17

See more resources like this

Sin, Mercy, God's Love

Corporate Confession for Ash Wednesday

Re-Worship

Assurance of Pardon, Prayer of Confession

A corporate confession and assurance of pardon (Ezekiel 36:25-27) for Ash Wednesday that asks for God's mercy because of our faults of wanting to be our own gods and viewing others as "less-than."

Ezekiel 36:25-27

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Sin, Idol, Mercy

Ash Wednesday Liturgy

Re-Worship

Assurance of Pardon, Prayer of Confession

A liturgy of confession and the imposition of ashes for Ash Wednesday. It is arranged for two leaders and congregation, emphasizing how we may have been unfaithful stewards, with assurance of pardon from Ezekiel 36:25-27.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Sin, Confession, Liturgy

Ashes

Kirk Alan Kubicek | Sermons That Work

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

In this sermon for Ash Wednesday, Kirk Kubieck says that "the ashes remind us of our connectedness and our disconnectedness to and from God."

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Promises, Covenant, Cross

Something about Ash Wednesday

Justus VanHouten | Sermons That Work

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

In this sermon, Justus VanHouten highlights three themes that make Ash Wednesday meaningful for many and explains the significance of the imposition of ashes.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Sin, Cross, Ashes

Ash Wednesday Worship Service Ideas

Katherine Lee Baker | Faithward

Affirmation of Faith and Commitment to Christian Living and 4 more types

This resource provides the meaning of Ash Wednesday and some Ash Wednesday service ideas. It reminds us of our sinfulness, mortality, and our utter dependence upon the grace of God and the power of Christ’s resurrection.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Lent, Sin, Repentance

Ash Wednesday

Bryan Owen | The Living Church

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

In reflecting on Ash Wednesday, Bryan Owen notes we are sinners and we are going to die, but God intervenes by offering Jesus who can save us and offer us everlasting life.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Death, Lent, Sin

Ashes, Aashes

Jennifer M Parker | The Banner

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

Jennifer Parker reflects on the practice of wearing ashes on Ash Wednesday. Ashes visibly remind us of our sinfulness. They also remind us that through Christ we're made clean. Useful for preaching on Psalm 51:3.

Psalm 51:3

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Lent, Sin, Guilt

Sin and Ashes

James C Howell | Ministry Matters

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

This reflection on Ash Wednesday explores traditional and alternative images of sin, the mark of Cain, and poetic takes on Ash Wednesday's meaning.

Genesis 4:15

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Sin, Mystery

Ashes Mark Sin, Death, and Hope

Emily C Heath | The Christian Century

Sermon Preparation or Illustration

Heath writes that part of preaching the truth is addressing sin and death. Ash Wednesday speaks to both and gives us the opportunity to repent; the ashes show we are marked for new life in Christ.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Death, Hope, Truthfulness

Search Results for "Ash Wednesday" on Hymnary.org

Dust and Ashes Touch Our FacePD
Create in Me a Clean HeartPD
Change My Heart, O God©
See more hymns...

Strangers Seeking Ashes

Amy Butler | Faith and Leadership

Article about Worship and the Sacraments

In this article, Amy Butler reflects on the surprising increase in visitors on Ash Wednesday and the need to acknowledge our sinfulness and failure while being reminded that God's steadfast love endures forever.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Sin, Confession, Honesty

Why Haven't I Seen Ashes Smeared on the Steeple?

Alaina Kleinbeck | Faith and Leadership

Article about Church Life and Leadership

In this article, Alaina Kleinbeck discusses the importance of confessing institutional sins. Ash Wednesday calls institutional leadership "to come clean of its missteps and limitations and set forth a vision for resurrection, healing and hope."

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Confession, Sin, Institution

Ash Wednesday Service

Thomas W Gillespie | Princeton Theological Commons

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

An audio-recorded worship service on Ash Wednesday including a sermon on the reality of our sin and the reality of God's unending grace.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Worship, Grace, Sin

Beginning of the Lenten Journey

Nancy Ferguson | Ministry Matters

Article about Worship and the Sacraments

Nancy Ferguson explains Lent as a season to reflect on God's salvation and restoration with Ash Wednesday as the inaugural day to remember human nature is finite and sinful, while God's nature is forgiving and redeeming.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Lent, Grace, Sin

Because We Need God’s Acceptance

Joan Stott | The Timeless Psalms

Scripture Meditation or Sermon, Call to Worship, Prayer of Confession

This worship resource by Joan Stott features a call to worship, prayers of confession and trust, and a meditation based on Psalm 51:1-17 for Ash Wednesday. It invites us to confess and to seek God's acceptance....

Psalm 51:1-17

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Sin, God's Mercy, Forgiveness Of Sin

Dust Thou Art

Kenneth Baker | Homiletic and Pastoral Review

Article about Worship and the Sacraments, Article about Theology

Remembering that we will die injects humility into our lives and spurs us on to a more intense practice of the love of God and neighbor. An Ash Wednesday reflection by Kenneth Baker.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Death, Sin, Judgment

Lent with Penitence and Humility

Scott A Haynes | Homiletic and Pastoral Review

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

Five homilies by Scott Haynes on Luke 4:21-30, Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 6:16-18, Psalm 91, and Luke 9:28-36. Themes include sin and hypocrisy, penitence, Ash Wednesday, Satan's temptation, and the Transfiguration.

Psalm 91; Matthew 6:16-18 Luke 4:1-13, 21-30, 5:1-11

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Penance, Hypocrisy, Temptation

Preaching on the Mark of Penitence

James C Howell | Ministry Matters

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

In this meditation on Ash Wednesday, James Howell contemplates the grievous ugliness of sin and how it magnifies our need to seek forgiveness, healing, and liberation from its terrible bondage.

See more resources like this

Ash Wednesday, Sin, Forgiveness Of Sin, Penitence