Ash Wednesday Covered Dish Dinner Worship Service

As Lent approaches and plans are being made for special services, I have been working on an idea for a special interactive Ash Wednesday service.  At my church, we are planning on having a covered dish dinner and using that format to share a common meal.  After the meal, we will prepare to enter into Lent by receiving the sign of the cross and sharing Holy Communion in groups around our common tables.  As I started looking at ways we could make this service more interactive, I came upon three resources, and so I have taken elements from each to add interest and interaction to this worship service.

The three resources are:

1.            http://www.pcusa.org/resource/ash-wednesday-service/

2.            http://www.pcusa.org/resource/isaiah-58-choral-reading-three-voices/

3.            https://stpaulsbr.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/853/

The basic outline of the meal and service are as follows:

As people enter the fellowship hall for dinner, the pastor and designated elders place the sign of the cross using ashes on the people's foreheads.  They are instructed to be seated at one of the tables prepared for the meal.  Each table has a table leader or elder assigned to it.  The table leaders or elders instruct those at their table to read through the Lenten Self-Examination that is found printed on their placemat (see resource #3) and to meditate on Lent and their observations from the self-examination.  The table leaders can lead discussion at each table or allow those at their table to quietly meditate.  Once all have arrived...

Call to Order based on Joel 2:12-18 (see resource #1).  This call to worship requires two people plus the pastor.  I envision the voices coming from different tables.  The intent of the Call to Worship is to startle people out of their contemplation.  The use of a trumpet or trumpet call also is utilized to startle the people.

Blessing of the Meal

Sharing of a Common Meal Together

Choral Reading of Isaiah 58.  After the meal is shared, a choral reading of Isaiah 58 is read (see resource #2).  This reading requires three voices and should be done from the front of the room.

Prayer of Confession and Words of Assurance are shared by the pastor (see resource #1).

Presentation of Confirmands and Prayer of Intercession.  If your church has a confirmation class in session during Lent, this is an ideal time to introduce them and to bless their journey through confirmation.  (See resource #1)

Invitation to the Table.  During this portion of the service, all are invited to participate in Holy Communion and to also remember their baptism.  Instructions are given to come forward to have the ashes that were received when they entered the room removed and traced and replaced by water to remember their baptism.  Congregants are instructed to return to their table at which time the pastor blesses the elements and the table leaders or elders serve the bread & grape juice to each person at their table. (See resource #1)

Prayer after Communion.  (See resource #1.)

Congregational Hymn:  Let Us Worship God With Justice (See resource #3.)

Benediction