Notes on the Notes – February 25, 2026

Ash Wednesday Service
4 p.m. Wednesday, February 25, 2026 

“Ash Wednesday Comes and, Lord, We Hear”

“Ash Wednesday comes, and Lord, we hear
The word for which our spirits yearn;
Amid this world’s distress and fear,
We hear your loving call: “Return!”

“Return to me with all your heart”
With fasting, weeping, mourning, too.
O God, we seek a brand new start,
A new beginning here with you.

You call to us — the old, the young;
You summon nations strong and weak.
When we have drifted toward the wrong,
You call us back, your way to seek.

O God most merciful and kind,
Your love is not a prize we earn;
Yet in our life with you we find
The joy that comes when we return.”

Our opening hymn references the words from Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 and was written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2011).  Through the words we are called into community again with others and with God as we move into the season of Lent. The tune we will be using was composed by Thomas Tallis in 1561 (TALLIS’ CANON) and is often paired with the hymn “All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night.”  Hear the tune at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PqV-iL44wk

“God, I call to You for Help” (VU #776 – Refrain 1)

“God, I call to you for help,
In your mercy hear my prayer.”

As we hear the words of confession, we respond with this refrain, which comes from a hymn that was written by Joseph Parry in 1879.

“Abana in Heaven” (TLUS #68) 

“Abana in heaven, hallowed be your holy name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, in all the earth as in heaven.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, in all the earth as in heaven.
And give to us, give us this day our daily bread, O Lord, we pray.

Forgive our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.

And save us in time of trial.
Deliver us from evil.

Yours is the kingdom, yours the power,
yours is the glory now and ever.

Abana in heaven.  Amen.” 

The words and music for this Arabic Lord’s prayer were written by Laila Constantine for the publication “Songs of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Egypt.”  The English translation and adaptation found in Then Let Us Sing is by Anne Emile Zake, Emily Brink and Greg Scheer (2009).

Hear the song at: Abana in Heaven