Lent With Gulf Coast
What is Lent?
Lent is a season of preparation that leads the church toward Easter. For forty days, Christians around the world slow down, reflect, and intentionally turn their hearts toward God.
Lent mirrors the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness, where he fasted, prayed, and resisted temptation as he prepared for his public ministry. During this season, we remember both our need for God and the grace God freely gives.
Historically, Lent has been shaped by prayer, repentance, and care for the poor. Many Christians choose to fast or give something up, not as a way to earn God’s love, but as a way to create space to listen, repent, and grow in trust.
Lent is not about self improvement or religious performance. It is about honest reflection, renewed dependence on God, and being shaped again by the love of Christ as we journey toward the joy of Easter.
What Is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a forty day season that prepares Christians for Easter. The practice goes back to the early centuries of the church and has long been used as a way to begin this season with honesty, humility, and hope.
The forty days of Lent do not include Sundays, because every Sunday is already a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.
Why Ashes?
During an Ash Wednesday service, worshipers may receive ashes on the forehead or hand. The ashes are a visible reminder of two important truths.
First, we are mortal. Scripture reminds us, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Ashes help us acknowledge the fragility and limits of our lives.
Second, we depend on God’s grace. Ash Wednesday is not about shame or guilt, but about remembering our need for mercy and our hope in Christ, who brings life out of death.
Ashes are a sign of repentance, but also of trust. We bring our whole lives honestly before God.
Ash Wednesday does not replace personal repentance or daily discipleship. It supports them by giving us a shared moment to pause, remember, and re orient our lives toward God.
An Invitation
Our church has not always practiced Ash Wednesday, but we see it as a meaningful and biblical way to begin the journey toward Easter. Ash Wednesday invites us to start Lent together with honesty about our weakness, gratitude for God’s mercy, and hope in the resurrection.
You do not need prior experience or special knowledge to participate. This is simply an invitation to pause, reflect, and begin the season intentionally.
We invite you to join us for our Ash Wednesday fireside service on February 18, 7pm.
It will be a short, quiet, outdoor gathering designed to be accessible for all ages.
Whether this is familiar or new to you, you are welcome.
The Journey of Holy Week
Join us as we walk through the story at the heart of our faith.
From Palm Sunday to the cross on Good Friday and the joy of Easter morning, Holy Week invites us to remember Jesus’ final days, his sacrifice, and the hope of resurrection.
Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Songs
Call to Worship
(inspired by Joel 2: 13-15, Hosea 14:1, Psalm 145:8, Zechariah 1:3)
(Leader)
Return to the Lord your God,
(Congregation)
for God is gracious.
Confess to the Lord your God,
for God is merciful.
Repent to the Lord your God,
for God is slow to anger.
Praise the Lord your God,
for God abounds in steadfast love.
Worship the Lord your God.
Together, let us worship God!
Song Lyrics
Praise to the Lord
Verse 1
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation
Come all who hear, now to His temple draw near; Join me in glad adoration
Verse 2
Praise to the Lord, above all things so wondrously reigning
Shelters thee under His wings and so gently sustaining
Have you not seen all that is needful has been sent by His gracious ordaining
Verse 3
Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do if with His love He befriends you
Chorus
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above
Verse 4
Praise to the Lord, oh let all that is in me adore Him
All that hath life and breath come now with praises before Him
Let the amen sound from His people again; gladly forever adore Him
Give Us Your Heart
Verse 1
Your eyes are on the lowly though others look away
Your feet run to the broken; Your hands are quick to save
Make us like You Lord
Verse 2
You walk with the forgotten and offer them a home
Adopting the unwanted and calling them Your own
Make us like You Lord, make us like You Lord
Chorus 1
O give us Your heart, O give us Your heart
Let the light of heaven shine as we step into the dark
O give us Your heart, O give us Your heart
All to see Your kingdom come and death depart
O give us Your heart, O give us Your heart
Bridge 1
Let justice flow like a river in the desert
Let the nations know that You will reign forever
As the earth beholds the glory of the Savior, Let justice flow
The Jesus Way
Verse 1
If you curse me then I will bless you, If you hurt me I will forgive
And if you hate me then I will love you, I choose the Jesus way
Verse 2
If you’re helpless I will defend you, And if you’re burdened I’ll share the weight
And if you’re hopeless then let me show you, There’s hope in the Jesus way
Chorus 1
I follow Jesus I follow Jesus
He wore my sin I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh I choose the Jesus way
Verse 3
If you strike me I will embrace you, And if you chain me I’ll sing His praise
And if you kill me my home is heaven, For I choose the Jesus way
Bridge 1
I choose surrender I choose to love
Oh God my Savior You’ll always be enough
I choose forgiveness I choose grace
I choose to worship no matter what I face
I choose the Jesus way, I choose the Jesus way
Glorify Thy Name
Verse 1
Father we love You, We worship and adore You
Glorify Thy name in all the earth
Glorify Thy name, Glorify Thy name
Glorify Thy name in all the earth
Verse 2
Jesus we love You, We worship and adore You
Glorify Thy name in all the earth
Glorify Thy name, Glorify Thy name
Glorify Thy name in all the earth
Verse 3
Spirit we love You, We worship and adore You
Glorify Thy name in all the earth
Glorify Thy name, Glorify Thy name
Glorify Thy name in all the earth
Great Are You Lord
Verse
You give life, You are love, You bring light to the darkness
You give hope, You restore every heart that is broken
And great are You, Lord
Chorus
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only
Bridge
All the earth will shout Your praise
Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing
Great are You, Lord
Prayer of Confession
God, before You our hearts are open and you see how we have strayed. We have let our own desires, pride, and fears take priority over Your will. Too often, we seek what is easy instead of what is right.
Today, as we receive these ashes, we remember that we are dust—small, fragile, and completely dependent on You.
Create in us clean hearts, O God. Renew our spirits. Help us walk forward in the confidence that Your love is greater than our failures. During this season may we turn to You with our whole hearts.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Copyright 2026 Gulf Coast Community Church