ASH WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 18, 2026, 7:00 PM
ORDER OF SERVICE
PRELUDE: “NEAR THE HEART OF GOD”
*RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP:
Pastore: Create in me a clean heart, O God.
People: Keep our eyes on Jesus, our crucified Lord.
Pastor: Put a new and a right spirit within me, O God.
People: Keep our hearts in Jesus, our crucified Lord.
Pastor: My footsteps falter and I lose my way.
People: Restore us to the joy of your salvation.
All: Open our lips, that we may declare your praise.
* OPENING HYMN: NO. 76 “MY SONG IS LOVE UNKNOWN”
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE: Mighty Lord, we confess that we are lost without you. Gather us, so that we may join our hearts and voices together in seeking your forgiveness and direction. So often we would go our own way, desiring only our personal success and public glory. Forgive us. In our practice of the faith, may our right hand not be concerned with what the left is doing. So often we forget that without you we are but dust and ashes with no hope beyond this life. Forgive us. In our assembly and in our daily lives keep our hearts and minds fixed on the cross of Christ, remembering that our hope rests in his death and resurrection. May our journey be one of faith in you and generous service to your world. AMEN
LORD’S PRAYER (“DEBTS”)
* RESPONSIVE READING OF PSALM 51: 1-12
[1] Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
[2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
[3] For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
[4] Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment.
[5] Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
[6] Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
[7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
[8] Fill me with joy and gladness; let the bones which thou hast broken rejoice.
[9] Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
[10] Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
[11] Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
[12] Restore to me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
* GLORIA PATRI: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. World without end. AMEN.
WORSHIP THROUGH CARING, PRAYING AND GIVING
MEDITATIONAL HYMN NO. 195 “HAVE MERCY ON US, LIVING LORD” (FIRST 4 STANZAS)
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER/THE CHURCH AT PRAYER
CHORAL RESPONSE:
SHARING OF OUR GIFTS, TITHES AND OFFERING PRECEDED BY PRAYERPRAYER OF DEDICATION: Great God, who created us and continues to sustain us in this world, we give you thanks and praise for the blessings we have received through your bountiful grace. Use our lives and the resources you have given us, so that we may glorify you in all we say and do as we minister to all in need in this world. AMEN.
OFFERTORY SOLO: “WITH THESE ASHES
* DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF GRATITUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WORSHIP THROUGH REFLECTION AND MEDITATION
OLD TESTAMENT WITNESS: JOEL 2: 12 - 17
[12] "Yet even now," says the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; [13] and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. [14] Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the LORD, your God? [15] Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; [16] gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. [17] Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare thy people, O LORD, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, `Where is their God?'"
SOLO: “ASHES” - DISTRIBUTION OF ASHES (OPTIONAL)
THE GOSPEL WITNESS: ST MATTHEW 6: 1 - 6, 16 – 18
[1] "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. [2] "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [3] But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. [5] "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [6] But when 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. [16] "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [17] But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, [18] that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
PREACHING OF THE WORD: ABOUNDING IN LOVE – REV. DR. CHRIS. PONNURAJ
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – A NEW CREED
Pastor: We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
People: We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. (United Church of Canada-1980, The New Century Hymnal No. 887)
* CLOSING HYMN: NO. 543 “ABIDE WITH ME”
* BENEDICTION: (THREE-FOLD AMEN)
RESPONSE:
POSTLUDE: “COME, LABOR ON”
*Please stand as you are able and comfortable standing.
In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ a cordial welcome to those who have come to this house of worship. We thank you for worshiping with us today. Your presence encourages and strengthens us. Guests are invited to sign the guest book in the narthex. We look forward to seeing you again.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday (2/18/26) we are entering into the season of Lent. We will be celebrating Palm Sunday on 03/29/29 – 11:00 AM (Procession into Church with palm leaves), Maundy Thursday on 04/02/26 - 7:00 PM, Good Friday on 04/03/26 – 1:00 PM, and Resurrection Sunday on 04/05/26 – 11:00 AM – Holy Communion Service. Lent invites us to make our hearts and lives ready for remembering Jesus’ Passion and celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection.
COVENANT OF CARE
Nargis Abbas, Cindi Barna, Donald Boland, Debbie Brady, Dave Carbray, Kerry-Ann Clayton,
Amani Fahr, Anna Fishman, Judy Ross Francis, Peter Gill, Frank Ingram, Ann Jamison,
Edie Jamison-Koenig, Jeanette Johnson, Peter Koenig, William S. Krause, Ronald M Leigh, Sr., Manoris Long, Rick Macerata, Joe Miller, Martin Morua, June Nickerson,
Tommy Nicholson, Sue Nuding, Master Sgt. Timothy Peters, John Polvere, Nancy Protzman, Meghan Ellen Quinlan, Tony Roque, Rev. Allan Ross, Vynetta Ross, Anthony Russo,
Richard Z. Steinhaus Jr., Edith Unger, Maryella Ward Leigh, Amanda Wilson, Ralph Zinzi
Family and Friends of Mrs. Vatsala Ponnuraj for the loss of her aunt Mrs. N Devadass
WEST CENTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UCC
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
Tel No. (914) 337-3829
www.westcenterchurch.org
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj – Minister
[email protected] (917) 743-1574
Mr. John Strybos – Director of Music & Organist
[email protected] (203) 921-5210
ASH WEDNESDAY