FEBRUARY 18, 2026
Prelude HisSongsfromIntheBottomsSuite Dett
CalltoWorship
WecometoworshipGodastheLentenseasonbegins,awareofourfrailty andourfailings
WecomeseekingGod’smercy,acknowledgingourmortality. Havingreceivedthewatersofbaptism,wecometobemarkednowwith ashes.
MaywehumbleourselvesbeforeGodnotwithayokeofburdenbuta mantleoffreedominJesus’name.
Hymn Lord,WhoThroughoutTheseFortyDays
PrayerofConfession
Havemercyonme,OGod,accordingtoyoursteadfastlove;accordingto yourabundantmercyblotoutmytransgressions Washmethoroughly frommyiniquity,andcleansemefrommysin.ForIknowmy transgressions,andmysiniseverbeforeme.
Againstyou,youalone,haveIsinned,anddonewhatisevilinyoursight, sothatyouarejustifiedinyoursentenceandblamelesswhenyoupass judgment.
Indeed,Iwasbornguilty,asinnerwhenmymotherconceivedme.You desiretruthintheinwardbeing;thereforeteachmewisdominmysecret heart
Purgemewithhyssop,andIshallbeclean;washme,andIshallbe whiterthansnow.Letmehearjoyandgladness;letthebonesthatyou havecrushedrejoice.
Hideyourfacefrommysins,andblotoutallmyiniquities.Createinmea cleanheart,OGod,andputanewandrightspiritwithinme Donotcastmeawayfromyourpresenceanddonottakeyourholyspirit fromme.Restoretomethejoyofyoursalvation,andsustaininmea willingspirit.
ThenIwillteachtransgressorsyourways,andsinnerswillreturntoyou. Delivermefrombloodshed,OGod.
OGodofmysalvation,andmytonguewillsingaloudofyour deliverance.OLord,openmylips,andmymouthwilldeclareyourpraise. Foryouhavenodelightinsacrifice;ifIweretogiveaburntoffering,you wouldnotbepleased.ThesacrificeacceptabletoGodisabrokenspirit;a brokenandcontriteheart,OGod,youwillnotdespise.DogoodtoZionin yourgoodpleasure;rebuildthewallsofJerusalem,thenyouwilldelightin rightsacrifices,inburntofferingsandwholeburntofferings;thenbullswill beofferedonyouraltar.
WordsofAssurance
AccordingtoGod’ssteadfastlove,accordingtoGod’sabundantmercy,God doesnotpassjudgmentonus,thejudgmentwedeserve Godcreatesinuscleanheartsandgivesanewandrightspirit.Inthegrace ofJesusChrist,wereturntoGodforgiven. PraiseGodforoursalvation!
TOHEARTHEWORDANDREFLECT
ScriptureReading 2Corinthians5:20b-6:10
MusicMinistry
CreateinMeaCleanHeart CarlMueller
Meditation Rev JennySmithWalz
TORESPONDINFAITH
Hymn IntheLordI’llBeEverThankful FWS#2195
ImpositionofAshes
PrayertoAcceptourAshes
Letusjointogetherinthiscommunalprayerasweaccepttheashesonour foreheadsandhands: GodoftheDust, WepraiseyouforbeingaMakerwhoiscapableofdreamingupglory fromdirt.AswejourneythroughthisLentenseason,helpustoremember ouroriginstoryandfindourselvesdeeplygroundedinbodiesmadefrom thelowestpartofcreation,yetalivewithgloriedbreathfromthedivine. Weconfessthatwedonotalwaysapprehendthehumilityofourown beginnings.Letthememoryofitnotservetodemeanourdignitybut affirmit,aswecometoseeourselvesasbearingyourimageandbreath.
Andaswerememberourgenesis,letusholdintendernesstherealityof ourownmortality,thatwewouldbepeoplepreparedtocontendwiththe tragedyofdeathanddecay.Letthisbeaseasonwherewebecome uniquelyattunedtotheagoniesofsin,trauma,andalienation—allowing ourinteriorburdenstobeheldinaholylament.Grantusthecourageto tellthetruthofallthathauntsussothatwemightbepurgedofeverylie thatleadsusintobondage. Andaswefacethetruthsofwhoweare,let ourownfrailtiesguideusdeeperstillintothehopeofYou,thatwewould believethatYouwhoborelifefromdust,candosoonceagain. GlorytotheOnewhoharnessesbeautyfromash.Welooktoyou.Amen
Hymn Sunday’sPalmsareWednesday’sAshes FWS#2138
ANDSCATTERSTOBEINTHEWORLD
Leave in silence
SHARINGINWORSHIPTODAY
Liturgists - Isaac Shin, Hannah Snider, Momo Wolapaye
Musicians - Jenni Collins, Julia Hanna
Ushers - Ida Cahill, Tom Sandford, David Bell
We are a diverse faith community, engaged in enlivening spiritually thirsty people to joyfully respond to God’s love and grow as disciples of Christ, so that together we may experience the fullness of
Join Isaac Shin for a Lenten small group on February 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, and April 1 at 7 pm. The small group will follow the Lenten theme "Fear Not!" and invite you more deeply into scripture and discussion with others. Reach out to isaac@princetonumcorg if you'd like to join the group or if you'd like more information. JOINASEASONALLENTENSMALLGROUP
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Leadership and Discipleship Boards invite everyone to the first quarterly meeting on Sunday, February 22, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Join us in person in theFellowshipHalloronZoom Childcareisavailable
CONGREGATIONALMEETING
Join us for an Altamura Legacy Concert on Sunday, February 22 at 4 pm, general admission is free and unticketed with a suggested donation of $30. Doors and coffee bar open at 3 pm A pre-concert at 3:30 features students of Princeton PianoArtsAcademy,locatedatPUMC. MOONLIGHTINTHEAFTERNOON
FirstrehearsalforthisseasonisSunday,February22,followingworship,from11:45 a.m.-12:30p.m.WewillsingeverySundayduringLentaswellaspreparespecial worship experiences during Holy Week: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday. We'd love to have you join us! For more information, contactTomShelton-tom@princetonumc.org INTERGENERATIONCHOIRFORLENT/EASTER