Ash Wednesday for First Hillsville UMC & Out of the Box Worship Center & the Community


I hope you are planning to join us at Out of the Box Worship Center tonight for the Worship Service. We are combining all of our locations, First United Methodist Church Hillsville, Out of the Box Youth, and The Worship Center in our Worship Center in Downtown Hillsville.  The service begins at 7pm with acoustic worship led by the praise team of the worship center. Pastor Ronnie will speak and our Senior Pastor, Ty Harrison will bless us with the imposition of Ashes.

Here is information about tonights service.

Matthew 6:1-6 & 16-21 New Living Translation

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

If you could ask God one question, What would it be?

There will be a Question Box set up for you to submit your questions about God. Each week we will choose a question or questions to answer in the Sunday Sermons at Out of the Box Worship Center and First United Methodist Church Hillsville.

Ash Wednesday

What is the significance of ashes being placed on the forehead on Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. It is a day of penitence and remembrance of our sins of the past and our ultimate mortality. Palm branches are usually burned and the sign of the cross is placed on the forehead using the ashes. Sometimes a small card or piece of paper is distributed on which each person writes a sin he wishes to be rid of. The cards are then brought to the altar to be burned along with the palm branches. The ash cross is an outward sign of our sorrow and repentance for sins.

Consider Ash Wednesday your love letter to God. What will you do to make the season of Lent special – to create an environment in your life where the Holy Spirit can work?

Focus: Imagine practicing the faith from a point of depth, rather than surface-level, outward appearance.

Takeaway: God cares more about being in real conversation with you than how you appear to others.

Challenge: Let the mystery of God unfold through spiritual practices.

We hope that you will join us as we begin the journey through Lent in 2011. We believe that God is doing a Great Work among us in Hillsville and you are invited to be a part of the team.

 

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