LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
ASH WEDNESDAY, YEAR A
FEBRUARY 18, 2026
† Stand as you are able
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
†Call to Worship
Return to the Lord with all your heart.
For God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Come—let us walk the path of repentance and hope.
Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.
Opening Prayer
Holy God, in dust you formed us and by your breath you gave us life. On this holy day, draw us into truth-telling and tenderness of spirit. Where we are distracted, gather us. Where we are hardened, soften us. Where we are wounded, heal us. Lead us into a holy Lent, that we may follow Christ with humility and joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
†Opening Hymn “Sanctuary” TFWS 2164
A Reading from the Prophets Joel 2:1–2, 12–17 NRSV
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near-a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains, a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come. Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. Between the vestibule and the altar, let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep. Let them say, “Spare your people, O LORD, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?'”
The word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God!
Psalter Psalm 51:1–17 UMH 785 (Response 1)
†A Reading from the Gospel Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 NRSV
Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you fast, do not look somber, like the hypocrites, for they mark their faces to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Gospel of our Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ.
Homily Reverend. Levon D. Sutton, Pastor
Invitation to Offering
Invitation to the Observance of Lent
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ: The early Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection. It became the custom of the Church to prepare for this holy season by a time of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provides us a time for self-examination and repentance; for prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and for reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. Therefore, I invite you, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by repentance and faith; by works of mercy; and by renewing your commitment to Christ.
Confession and Pardon
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silent Confession
Words of Assurance and Pardon
Hear the good news: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Glory to God. Amen.
Responsive Hymn “Change My Heart, O God” TFWS 2152
Blessing of the Ashes
Let us pray. Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth. Bless these ashes, that they may be a sign of our mortality and penitence, and a reminder that only by your gracious gift are we given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Directions to the Congregation
You are invited to come forward to receive ashes. You are welcome to kneel at the prayer rail or return to your seat when you receive ashes.
Imposition of Ashes
Prayer after Imposition
Gracious God, seal in us the work you have begun this night. Let repentance become renewal, and humility become holy courage, as we walk with Jesus toward the cross and into resurrection hope. Amen.
Closing Hymn “Close to Thee (Thou My Everlasting Portion)” UMH 407
Benediction
Go forth in peace: humbled, forgiven, and held by God. May Christ walk before you and beside you. May the Spirit give you strength for the journey. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Organ Postlude