PRAYING AND CARING FOR OUR

CHURCH FAMILY

Joanne Jackson, Jessica (medical issues); Cathy Willard (patients at CarePartners Re-
hab); Bill Ward, Joanne Fox, Ken Driggers, Ronnie Smith, Baylor Joel Teal and Carey
Heaver (children w/cancer), Dixie Tipton, Mabel & Ed Ehresman, John Scott (brother
of Pat MacLean), Vivian Washington, Martha Miles, Benjamin Bailey (Snider’s grand-
son), Scott, Martha, Randy; Mr. Webb; The Armstrong family (Gerry’s death); Irving
Washington, and unnamed others.
Bright Hope Laurel
(If you know of someone who should be added to our prayer list, please write it on a
piece of paper and place it in the offering plate or give it to the pastor) United Methodist Church

PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP

Instrumentalists John Hamrick and Elizabeth Hamrick

Soloists Andrea Bailey and Rev. Johnson

Scripture Readers Rich Ashley and Nicole Johnson

Greeters Judy Womble and Liz Benjamin

Ushers Frank and Angela Fox

Children’s Message Rev. Johnson

Counters John Hamrick and Assistant

Nursery/Preschool Judy Womble

Rev. Bruce Johnson, Pastor Andrea Bailey, Music Director
Elizabeth Hamrick, Pianist John Hamrick, Organist
Audio/Visual Brian Dodge
Post Office Box 865 • Mars Hill, North Carolina 28754
(828) 689-5486 (Church) • (828) 689-5561 (Parsonage)
Refreshments Need Volunteers (828) 380-0158 (Pastor’s Cell Phone)
Church Web Address: http://www.brighthopelaurel.org
E-mail: mail@brighthopelaurel.org
 Sunday, February 21st, 2010 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A Taizé Service of the Imposition of Ash
This morning’s music in the bulletin are printed with permission as fol-
1 Sunday, Lent lows:
“Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and
abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.” The Celebration Hymnal. Copyright 1997 by Word/Integrity. All rights
(Joel: 2:13b, NRSV). reserved. The Publishers gratefully acknowledge permission from organi-
zations to reprint texts, music and arrangements contained in this book.
WORSHIP NOTE!!!
As you leave this morning, do not attempt to wash the ashes off with water. The Faith We Sing. Copyright 2000 by Abingdon Press. All rights re-
Ash and water when mixed forms a caustic substance that may irritate and served.
even burn the skin. Instead, use a little vegetable oil to clean the ash off of
your forehead. The United Methodist Hymnal. Copyright 1989 by The United Methodist
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednes- Publishing House. All rights reserved.
day and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten,
which means “spring.” The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. The Bulletin Cover picture was taken from http://www.island-christian-
The Service of the Imposition of Ashes emphasizes a dual encounter: we confront church.org/churchwebimages/AshWednesday-copy.jpg and used with per-
our own mortality and we confess our sin before God within the community of faith. mission.
The service focuses on the dual themes of sin and death in the light of God’s re-
deeming love in Jesus Christ.
As we come together this morning, we worship together in the Taizé tradition. Taizé
is a style of worship originating from Taizé, France (which is a little village south of
Burgundy. Over sixty years ago, Brother Roger founded a community that was
wholly devoted to prayer and to living a parable of reconciliation within both the
church and the human family. There worship consisted of repetitive music, prayer,
silent mediation, visual reminders of who they were as Children of God, and the
study of God’s Word. Our service this morning follows a similar pattern with song,
scripture, personal mediation, and the sharing of God’s Word. It is my pray that you
find this service to be the beginning of your journey through this Lenten season as
we together strive to grow closer to God and to one another.

ENTRANCE AND PRAISE

God’s people come into His presence with Prayer and Praise
(For this morning’s service, we will be using The Celebration Hymnal, The United Methodist
Hymnal, and The Faith We Sing. The music is also printed in the bulletin for your convince.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 10:50AM
PRELUDE: 10:55 AM
LIGHTING OF THE ALTAR CANDLES: The Acolyte
Bringing the Light of Christ into the Church
THE LIGHT OF CHRIST ENTERS THE WORLD The Acolyte *OPENING HYMN The Celebration Hymnal # 655
“Sanctuary”
WORDS OF PEACE Rev. Johnson (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

*HYMN The United Methodist Hymnal # 269

“Lead Me, Lord”
(Psalms 5:8)

*POSTLUDE
*Indicates the Congregation shall stand, as able
~~~~~~~~~~~
We welcome our visitors today as you worship with us! We hope you will come
again! If you are looking for a church home and want to feel and experience the
love of God, Bright Hope Laurel United Methodist Church is the place for you!
RESPONSIVE READING — Psalm 27 *HYMN The United Methodist Hymnal # 269
Leader: The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the de- “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”
(Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)
fense of my life; Whom shall I dread?
All: One thing I ask of the Lord, only that do I seek: to live in the house
of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord,
to frequent His temple.
Leader: Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud: have mercy on me, answer me. In Your behalf
my heart says: “Seek My face!” O Lord, I seek Your face. Do not hide Your face from me;
do not thrust aside Your servant in anger; You have ever been my help. Do not forsake me,
do not abandon me, O God , my deliverer. Though my father and mother abandon me, the
Lord will take me in.
All: Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a level path.

MORNING PRAYER

HYMN The Faith We Sing # 2200

“O Lord, Hear My Prayer” (Three Times)
(Psalms 102:1-2)
THE IMPOSITION OF ASHES OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Rich Ashley
(All are invited to come and receive God’s grace by touching the clay, the Jeremiah 18:1-6
water, the oil, and through the receiving of the ashes. After receiving the
ashes, you may return to your seat or knell at God’ Altar.) CHILDREN’S SERMON Rev. Johnson
A Lump of Clay
A PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Leader: In the dark of night God calls to us; beckoning us on, seeking us SPECIAL MUSIC Rev. Johnson
out, calling us to peace, to quietness, to wholeness. “Change My Heart, O God”
(Psalms 51:10)
All: The world is dark around us, filled with coldness, terror and rest-
lessness.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Nicole Johnson
Leader: It is a darkness of our creation: Greed, hatred, envy: brokenness.
Psalm 51:10-12
All: Take us and heal us of every evil. Bring us back into the comfort
and closeness of your embrace, O God.
MEDITATION Rev. Johnson
Leader: Your cleansing love, O God, purifies our darkness restoring it to
The Cleansing Water
us; Warm, comforting, restful: complete.
All: In the dark of our night we hear God call, offering love and
SILENCE
strength and forgiveness.
Leader: With God the darkness brings comfort not fear, love not hatred,
HYMN The Celebration Hymnal # 633
righteousness not punishment. Walk in the darkness of your life as in the
“Open Our Eyes Lord”
light, for both the dark and the light belong to God, as do you. (Matthew 5:8)
All: Amen.
SILENCE
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Rich Ashley Leader: Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin I was conceived.
Lamentations 3:19-23 All: Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden
part You will make me know wisdom.
MEDITATION Rev. Johnson Leader: Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Oil All: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Leader: Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which You have
SILENCE broken rejoice.
All: Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
HYMN The United Methodist Hymnal # 488 Leader: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit
“Jesus, Remember Me” (Three Times) within me. Do not cast me away from your presence and do not take Your
(Luke 23:42) Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain
me with a willing spirit.
All: Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be
converted to You. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, the God
of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteous-
ness.
Leader: O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise. For
You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not
pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken and a con-
trite heart, O God, You will not despise.

GIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY:
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise Him
above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”

SPECIAL MUSIC Andrea Bailey

“The Lord’s Prayer”
(Matthew 6:9-13)

RESPONSIVE READING — Psalm 51 NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Nicole Johnson

Leader: Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; Luke 7:1-10
according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgres-
sions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. MEDITATION Rev. Johnson
All: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Such Faith I Have Not Seen
Against you, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your
sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when
You judge.