WEDNESDAY 1ST MARCH 2017 ASH WEDNESDAY
THEME: REPENT AND RETURN TO GOD
Psalm 51:1-10, Acts 2:36-38, Matthew 6:16-18
Psalm 51[a]
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 51:1 In Hebrew texts 51:1-19 is numbered 51:3-21.
Acts 2:36-38New International Version (NIV)
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 6:16-18New International Version (NIV)
Fasting
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Today is Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent. Welcome to our services at Azania. The English service is at 6pm and the Swahili service at 5pm. Lent is a period of preparation before Easter. During this time we remember Jesus fasting for 40 days in the Wilderness. Jesus assumes that His disciples will fast. He tells them not to make it obvious to others. It is a spiritual exercise to deny ourselves and spend more time with God in prayer and Bible reading. We should also examine our lives and repent our sins. God bless you during this time of Lent and help you come close to Him.
JUMATANO TAREHE 1 MACHI 2017 JUMATANO YA MAJIVU
WAZO KUU: KUTUBU NA KUREJEA KWA BWANA
Zaburi 51:1-10, Matendo 2:36-38, Mathayo 6:16-18
Zaburi 51:1-10
1 Ee Mungu, unirehemu, Sawasawa na fadhili zako. Kiasi cha wingi wa rehema zako, Uyafute makosa yangu.
2 Unioshe kabisa na uovu wangu, Unitakase dhambi zangu.
3 Maana nimejua mimi makosa yangu Na dhambi yangu i mbele yangu daima.
4 Nimekutenda dhambi Wewe peke yako, Na kufanya maovu mbele za macho yako. Wewe ujulikane kuwa una haki unenapo, Na kuwa safi utoapo hukumu.
5 Tazama, mimi naliumbwa katika hali ya uovu; Mama yangu alinichukua mimba hatiani.
6 Tazama, wapendezwa na kweli iliyo moyoni; Nawe utanijulisha hekima kwa siri,
7 Unisafishe kwa hisopo nami nitakuwa safi, Unioshe, nami nitakuwa mweupe kuliko theluji
8 Unifanye kusikia furaha na shangwe, Mifupa uliyoiponda ifurahi.
9 Usitiri uso wako usitazame dhambi zangu; Uzifute hatia zangu zote.
10 Ee Mungu, uniumbie moyo safi, Uifanye upya roho iliyotulia ndani yangu
Matendo 2:36-38
36 Basi nyumba yote ya Israeli na wajue yakini ya kwamba Mungu amemfanya Yesu huyo mliyemsulibisha kuwa Bwana na Kristo.
37 Walipoyasikia haya wakachomwa mioyo yao, wakamwambia Petro na mitume wengine, Tutendeje, ndugu zetu?
38 Petro akawaambia, Tubuni mkabatizwe kila mmoja kwa jina lake Yesu Kristo, mpate ondoleo la dhambi zenu, nanyi mtapokea kipawa cha Roho Mtakatifu.
Mathayo 6:16-18
16 Tena mfungapo, msiwe kama wanafiki wenye uso wa kukunjamana; maana hujiumbua nyuso zao, ili waonekane na watu kuwa wanafunga. Amin, nawaambia, wamekwisha kupata thawabu yao.
17 Bali wewe ufungapo, jipake mafuta kichwani, unawe uso;
18 ili usionekane na watu kuwa unafunga, ila na Baba yako aliye sirini; na Baba yako aonaye sirini atakujazi.
Leo ni Jumatano ya Majivu na siku ya kwanza katika kipindi cha Kwaresma. Karibuni katika ibada zetu jioni. Ibada ya Kiswahili itaanza saa 11.00 jioni na ya Kiingereza saa 12 jioni. Kwaresma ni kipindi ambao tunayakumbuka jinsi Yesu alifunga siku 40 jangwani. Yesu katika somo la Mathayo anaonyesha kwamba anataegemea wanafunzi watafunga pia. Lakini anawaonya wasifanye kwa kujionyesha. Ni muda wa kujinyima na kupata nafasi kuwa karibu na Mungu katika kuomba na kusoma Neno la Mungu, na kujichunguza mwenendo wetu, na kutubu dhambi zetu. Mungu awabariki sana katika msimu huu wa Kwaresma.
