Ash Wednesday (Page 13)
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the day many Christians mark as the first day of Lent. Lent is the time of reflection and penitence leading up to Easter Sunday. In churches all over the world ashes are dispensed and often communion is shared. The ashes are usually made by burning the palm fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday, and the clergy use them to make the sign of the cross on a person’s forehead. As we “impose” or “dispense” the ashes to each person, the reminds each Christian of Genesis 3:19: “For dust you are and to dust you shall return.”
Ash Wednesday is meant to remind us that our lives matter, that our lives are short and we are called by God to make a difference! In many cities and towns there is a party the night before Ash Wednesday. Maybe you have heard of Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,”? These parties are a secular observance that traces its roots to “Shrove Tuesday” in the church. This was the day when households prepared for the austerity of giving things up for Lent by emptying out their larder. (flour, sugar, etc) You may hear of pancake eating parties to celebrate “Shrove Tuesday”.
The season of Lent is the time period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. It is really longer than 40 days even though you often hear us refer to “the 40 days of Lent”. There are actually 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, but we just don’t count the Sundays as part of Lent.
To be clear, there is no mention of Ash Wednesday or Lent in the Bible. But there is a tradition of donning ashes as a sign of penitence that is older than Jesus. In the Old Testament (Job 42.6), Job repents “in dust and ashes,” and there are other associations of ashes and repentance in other books of the Bible. Both Ash Wednesday and Lent have developed and changed over the many generations of Christians who have gone before us as we all seek to root our lives in Grace through public worship and grow in faith through searching the scriptures, prayer and abstinence.
We look forward to the season before us as we begin together tomorrow at 7 am in the sanctuary. All are welcome.
Sources:
Ash Wednesday
Lent
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the day many Christians mark as the first day of Lent. Lent is the time of reflection and penitence leading up to Easter Sunday. In churches all over the world ashes are dispensed and often communion is shared. The ashes are usually made by burning the palm fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday, and the clergy use them to make the sign of the cross on a person’s forehead. As we “impose” or “dispense” the ashes…
We will gather this Wednesday morning at 7:00 am for Ash Wednesday worship. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent; a time of preparation for the mystery and hope of Easter. Ash Wednesday emphasizes both the ways in which we are prone to wander from God’s love and our human mortality. Join us at The Table Wednesday morning for worship that will weave music, prayer, readings, reflection, ashes, & communion. We plan to finish worship by 7:45…
We have enjoyed singing “Blessed” in worship. Here is an acoustic version of Brett Dennen singing his song from some years ago. A simple and beautiful reminder for us today. May we all live in generosity and love. Happy Friday! Happy Life!
We are in the third and final week of our worship series called Practicing Generosity. We hope this series helps us to explore how faith shapes hearts of gratitude & generosity. Please note that Ash Wednesday is quickly approaching. We will gather in the Sanctuary at 7:00 am on the MORNING of Ash Wednesday, February 18. Worship will include both imposition of ashes & communion. We anticipate the worship service will take about 45 minutes and we hope this will allow time…
“Do you want an economy of grace based on generosity, or an economy of scarcity based on acquisition?” –Wendell Berry, from an interview with Rose Marie Berger
We’re grateful for the many people who worked diligently to expand our teams for Godly Play, Nursery, Counting, and Hospitality this week! We welcomed 234 people to worship at The Table on Sunday. Thank you for your generous spirits and for all the ways you are making more room for folks to find a place at The Table. We are in the second week of our worship series called Practicing Generosity. We hope this series will help us to explore how faith shapes…
This post was written by a mom named Stacy May from Minneapolis, Mnn and shared on FB. How might you teach “genosity” this week? “We have been the recipients of incredible acts of generosity in the three years since my husband lost his full-time job. Friends bought and installed a toilet and sink in an old bathroom that we had never used so we would have two workable bathrooms. My sister asked for donations and raised more than $1,000 at…
This is an exciting week in the life of our church. We’re thrilled to make room at The Table as we move to two worship gatherings this Sunday. Please remind your Kitchen Table of the new times: 9:30 am and 11:00 am. We’re grateful for the many people who are working diligently to expand our teams for Godly Play, Nursery, Counting, and Hospitality. We look forward to taking this next step with you all! We begin a new three-week worship…
We continue our four-week series, What Keeps You Awake At Night?, this week with focus on Mark 1.14-20. We will transition to two worship gatherings on February 1. The two worship gatherings, 9:30 am and 11:00 am, will both weave the same music and message. Similarly, we will offer the same Godly Play and Nursery Care at 9:30 am and 11:00 am as we transition to two worship times in order to make room at The Table. Outline of the series January 4 …
We continue our four-week series, What Keeps You Awake At Night?, this week with focus on Matthew 2.19-23. Mary, Joseph and Jesus journey home from Egypt. The death of Herod provides no relief for them. Joseph learns that Archelaus, the son of Herod, was the new ruler. Archelaus was every bit as cutthroat as his father before him. The family seeks safety in the town of Nazareth. Outline of the series January 4 Matthew 2.1-12 Epiphany Sunday January 11 …
Some of us are kept awake at night with concern for others. We are especially concerned for women and children who live on the margins of our city. We are grateful for the work of Tubman House in Sacramento, CA. “Through Tubman House, young parents (18 to 21 years old) experience healthy living, intensive case management, parent coaching and educational support so that they leave prepared to be leaders in their own lives, and leaders in the lives of their…
We continue our four-week series, What Keeps You Awake At Night?, this week with focus on Matthew 2.13-18. Outline of the series January 4 Matthew 2.1-12 Epiphany Sunday January 11 Matthew 2.13-18 January 18 Matthew 2.19-23 January 25 Mark 1.14-20 Take time to read Matthew 2.13-18 aloud. This is one of the many violently troubling stories we encounter in Scripture. Herod’s order to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and it’s vicinity who are two years old and under…
