Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday.
According to the Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of a 40 day journey [excluding Sundays] we call Lent. We set aside these days each year in the life of the Church to focus our hearts and minds again on the road that Jesus walked towards the cross, the sacrifice given for the world on that fateful Friday, and the joy that was found on Sunday in the Resurrection of Jesus.
The first day of this journey is referred to as Ash Wednesday because on this day we focus on the places in our lives where God is calling us to “repent” of our sins. To some, “repent” might sound like a strange word. It is best understood as not only acknowledging our wrongdoing, but also committing to living in a whole new way. To repent is to turn away from living life on our terms while turning towards life on God’s terms.
The “Ashes” of this Wednesday come from the ancient practice of dusting oneself with ash to not only signify mourning, but also sorrow for our sins and shortcomings. In churches across the world today, Christians will gather to receive the “imposition of Ashes,” where Ash is place on the forehead in the sign of the cross, and in our service this evening, these words are shared.
“In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.”
The marking of Ash Wednesday may be a new practice for you, but I want to strongly encourage you to begin the Lenten journey with us in this holy and humble way. We will be having our Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. in our Sanctuary this evening, but if your schedule does not allow you to attend, consider stopping by our chapel between the hours of 6 a.m. – 8 a.m. or 11 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. One of our pastors will be there to help you mark this holy day.
Grace and peace to each of you brothers and sisters. Today, we begin a special journey together.
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