A Curious Grace: Ash Wednesday

 

Introduction

Our Lenten theme for 2025 is: A Curious Grace.  The grace, forgiveness, and way of life demonstrated by Jesus are curious things--so curious that even the most faithful Christians have trouble coming to terms with them.  This Lent, we are going to open ourselves to the curious nature of Christ's grace by asking some questions designed to help us dig deeper into what grace is, how it is reflected in our lives, and what that means for our interactions with God, one another, and the world.  May each week's reading, music selections, and questions help you become more receptive to the fullness of God's grace and more intentional in how you share the Good News of that grace with the world.

Scripture for Ash Wednesday

Isaiah 58: 1- 11 

“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
    Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel of their sins!
2     Yet they act so pious!
They come to the Temple every day
    and seem delighted to learn all about me.
They act like a righteous nation
    that would never abandon the laws of its God.
They ask me to take action on their behalf,
    pretending they want to be near me.
3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
    ‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
    and you don’t even notice it!’

“I will tell you why!” I respond.
    “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
    you keep oppressing your workers.
4 What good is fasting
    when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting
    will never get you anywhere with me.
5 You humble yourselves
    by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads
    like reeds bending in the wind.
You dress in burlap
    and cover yourselves with ashes.
Is this what you call fasting?
    Do you really think this will please the Lord?

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
    lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
    and remove the chains that bind people.
7 Share your food with the hungry,
    and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
    and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
    and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
    and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
    ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
    Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry,
    and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.   (New Living Translation)

Option 1:

What "ashes" would Christ have you rise from and repent of in order to be created anew?

Option 2:

What Lenten "fast" do you feel called to make this year?  Is it one that God would deem acceptable?

Pause; Ask; Listen (Week 6: The Mind of Christ )

 

Introduction

This Lent, we are joining forces with our friends at First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro, Calvary Episcopal Church, and First Baptist Church, Wadesboro to offer each congregation's unique perspective on the same overarching theme.  That theme is: Pause; Ask; Listen.  As part of this theme, we here at First Presbyterian are offering up a weekly opportunity to pause what we are doing to read a piece of scripture, ask a questions or two relating to our daily lives, and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit as a piece of music plays.

This week's reading comes from Philippians 2, in which Paul invites communities of faith to be of the same mind as Christ and empty ourselves enough to let him help us make painful sacrifices if that it what it takes to follow God's will.

Scriptures

Philippians 2:5-11

⁵Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
⁶   who, though he was in the form of God,
          did not regard equality with God
          as something to be exploited,
⁷   but emptied himself,
          taking the form of a slave,
          being born in human likeness.
     And being found in human form,
⁸        he humbled himself
          and became obedient to the point of death —
          even death on a cross.

⁹   Therefore God also highly exalted him
          and gave him the name
          that is above every name,
¹⁰  so that at the name of Jesus
          every knee should bend,
          in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹  and every tongue should confess
          that Jesus Christ is Lord,
          to the glory of God the Father.

 

Option 1

What thoughts, doubts, fears, etc. hinder me from being willing to follow Jesus to the cross?

Option 2

In times of trial, how can I resolve to be of the same mind as Christ and follow God's will while trusting in the great morning to come?

 

Pause; Ask: Listen (Week 5: A Covenant of the Heart)

 

 

Introduction

This Lent, we are joining forces with our friends at First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro, Calvary Episcopal Church, and First Baptist Church, Wadesboro to offer each congregation's unique perspective on the same overarching theme.  That theme is: Pause; Ask; Listen.  As part of this theme, we here at First Presbyterian are offering up a weekly opportunity to pause what we are doing to read a piece of scripture, ask a questions or two relating to our daily lives, and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit as a piece of music plays.

This week's reading comes from Jeremiah 31.  Here, Jeremiah declares that God has chosen to renew our covenant with the Almighty by writing it on our hearts so that we can never escape the inner knowledge that he is our God and we are God's people.

Scriptures

Jeremiah 31:31-34
³¹The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ³²It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt — a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. ³³But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Option 1

What is the current state of the heart I've been tending?

Option 2

What message of love or purpose is Jesus writing upon my heart?

Pause; Ask: Listen (Week 4: Confessing Our Sins)

 

 Introduction

This Lent, we are joining forces with our friends at First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro, Calvary Episcopal Church, and First Baptist Church, Wadesboro to offer each congregation's unique perspective on the same overarching theme.  That theme is: Pause; Ask; Listen.  As part of this theme, we here at First Presbyterian are offering up a weekly opportunity to pause what we are doing to read a piece of scripture, ask a questions or two relating to our daily lives, and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit as a piece of music plays.

This week's reading comes from Psalm 107, which talks about confessing our sins to God so that we may be forgiven and healed from their effects on our lives.

Scriptures

Psalm 107: 17-22
 Some were sick through their sinful ways
    and because of their iniquities endured affliction;
¹⁸ they loathed any kind of food,
    and they drew near to the gates of death.
¹⁹ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress;
²⁰ he sent out his word and healed them
    and delivered them from destruction.
²¹ Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wonderful works to humankind.
²² And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices
    and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.
 

Option 1

How have my own sinful ways made me "sick" or caused hardship in my life?  (you have two song choices here)

Option 2

What would deliverance from my sinful ways change my life and actions?  How would it change the world?

 

Pause; Ask; Listen (Week 3: God's Commandments)

 

Introduction

This Lent, we are joining forces with our friends at First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro, Calvary Episcopal Church, and First Baptist Church, Wadesboro to offer each congregation's unique perspective on the same overarching theme.  That theme is: Pause; Ask; Listen.  As part of this theme, we here at First Presbyterian are offering up a weekly opportunity to pause what we are doing to read a piece of scripture, ask a questions or two relating to our daily lives, and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit as a piece of music plays.

This week's reading comes from Mark 8, in which Jesus tells us to ignore the temptation to focus on human things and instead focus on the divine vision he shows us.

There are two question/music options listed after the scripture below.  We invite you to try one or both of them.

Scriptures

Psalm 19: 7-14

 The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
    making wise the simple;
⁸ the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
    enlightening the eyes;
⁹ the fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
    and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² But who can detect one’s own errors?
    Clear me from hidden faults.
¹³ Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
    do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless
    and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  (NRSVUE)

 

Option 1

How do God's commandments teach me to love God and one another?

Psalm 19 in Hebrew

Option 2

Which of God's commandments do I struggle to obey?  Why?

Pause; Ask; Listen (Week 2: Vision)

 

Introduction

This Lent, we are joining forces with our friends at First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro, Calvary Episcopal Church, and First Baptist Church, Wadesboro to offer each congregation's unique perspective on the same overarching theme.  That theme is: Pause; Ask; Listen.  As part of this theme, we here at First Presbyterian are offering up a weekly opportunity to pause what we are doing to read a piece of scripture, ask a questions or two relating to our daily lives, and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit as a piece of music plays.

This week's reading comes from Mark 8, in which Jesus tells us to ignore the temptation to focus on human things and instead focus on the divine vision he shows us.

There are two question/music options listed after the scripture below.  We invite you to try one or both of them.

Scripture

Mark 8:31-38

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. ³² He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

³⁴ He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. ³⁶ For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? ³⁷ Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? ³⁸ Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  (NRSVUE)

 

Option 1

Where are my eyes fixed more on human things than divine things?

Option 2

What divine vision does Christ have for me?

Pause; Ask; Listen (Week 1: God's Mercy)

 

Introduction

This Lent, we are joining forces with our friends at First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro, Calvary Episcopal Church, and First Baptist Church, Wadesboro to offer each congregation's unique perspective on the same overarching theme.  That theme is: Pause; Ask; Listen.  As part of this theme, we here at First Presbyterian are offering up a weekly opportunity to pause what we are doing to read a piece of scripture, ask a questions or two relating to our daily lives, and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit as a piece of music plays.

This week's reading comes from Genesis 9, in which God promises to be merciful to us in our sinfulness, commits to never destroying Creation again, and sets the rainbow in the sky as a reminder of those promises.

There are two question/music options listed after the scripture below.  We invite you to try one or both of them.

Scripture

Genesis 9:8-17 

 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ⁹ “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you ¹⁰ and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. ¹¹ I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” ¹² God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: ¹³ I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” ¹⁷ God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

 

Option 1

For what in my life do I need God's mercy?

Translation: Lord have mercy upon me; Christ have mercy upon me; Lord have mercy up me.

Option 2

During times of difficulty or disruption, where can I look for signs of God's promises?