NOTE: This service was conducted at the beginning of Lent at Zebulon Baptist Church. Pastor Jack Glasgow shared this service with me. He responds, “The worship was amazing. The people were profoundly touched by the four symbols, so we kept them on our altar table throughout Lent and Holy week – a bowl of ashes, a bowl of water, a bowl of water, and the bread and cup.”
A Worship Service Celebrating the Ordinances of the Church
THE SIGN OF MORTALITY
Call to Worship: Psalm 90:1-12
Responsive Reading from Ecclesiastes 3
(adapted from Flames of the Spirit, Ruth Duck, editor)
Leader: For everything there is a searson.
People: And a time for every matter under heaven.
Leader: A time to be born,
People: And a time to die;
Leader: A time to keep,
People: And a time to give away.
Leader: This is the season for repentance,
People: For turning away from aimlessness and sin;
Leader: For re-turning our lives to God,
People: As joyful disciples of Christ.
A Hymn of Preparation: O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Prayer of Blessing
The Imposition of Ashes: “Remember, you are of dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Worshippers are invited to come to the Altar for the imposition of Ashes remembering our mortality and the sacrifice of Christ for our eternity.
THE SIGN OF NEW LIFE
The Baptism of Jesus as Recorded in the Scriptures:
Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22
The Ordinance of Baptism
The Prayer of Blessing
A Hymn of Baptism: Jesus, Our Lord and King
The Invitation to the Water: “For there are three that bear witness, The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood.”
Worshippers are invited to come to the Altar to touch “water” and remember their own baptism.
THE SIGN OF THE NEW COVENANT
Words of Institution for Communion
Prayer of Blessing
A Hymn of Communion: Your Supper, Lord, Before Us Spread
The Passing of the Peace of Christ
Worshippers greet one another with the traditional embrace: The Peace of Christ be with you. And the response: And also with you.
The Partaking of the Supper: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again.”
Worshippers are invited to come to the Lord’s Table to participate in the elements of Communion.
Meditation
Invitation to Commitment and Deeper Discipleship
A Hymn of Commitment: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
Presentation of Decisions
THE SIGN OF THE SPIRIT
An Invitation to Anointing: Thou hast anointed my head with oil, my cup runneth over.
The Anointing with Oil
Worshippers are invited to come to the Altar and participate in a moment of confession and assurance.
A Prayer for Going Forth in the Security of the Spirit
Benediction Hymn: Blest Be the Tie
A Worship Service Celebrating the Ordinances of the Church