This year we celebrate Ash Wednesday on February 17. We will livestream the service at 7:00 PM. We are preparing individual packets of ashes that you can pick up at church anytime between Feb 14-17. If you have questions, please call the office or email Pastor Joel.
References to ashes in the Bible symbolize humility, repentance and sorrow for our sin. We use ashes on Ash Wednesday as a reminder of our human frailty and complete dependence upon God for life. As we make the sign of the cross with them on our forehead, we hear the words, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”
Yet we remember how God created us from the dust of the earth. God literally breathed life in the human formed from the dust. In our baptism we remember that we are buried with Christ and raised to new life, just as Christ was raised to life.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our Lenten journey. We hear again the stories of Christ’s suffering and how they affirm God’s tremendous love for us.
Traditionally we are invited to participate in Lenten disciplines. To deepen our prayer life, to give special offerings for the poor, fasting, etc… Perhaps you may choose to read the gospel of John during Lent. John’s gospel is a beautiful story of God’s incarnate love in Jesus Christ, “Word made Flesh”.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Joel
