Ash Wednesday

 Throughout the season of Epiphany we’ve looked at what the 1895 book by Henry Van Dyke can teach us about living in the 21^st Century. The Other Wise Man in his search for the Christ child, the King of the Jews, has many trials and adventures. Artaban sets out from Persia to greet an infant and ends up in Jerusalem in time to hear of a crucifixion. The thirty plus years of travel have aged him and his life-long work of caring for the poorest and least and ill has left him feeling that it was a life wasted. He thinks he has missed the chance to worship the King because he used his gifts of precious gems for other purposes. At the end of his life, Artaban discovers that the way he has lived his life and spent the wealth was service to God.

We are entering the season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is this week. Lent is a season of the church calendar where we look at our spiritual health. We ask ourselves if there are behaviors we need to repent, attitudes we need to change, actions we should stop or start, or spiritual practices we may want to engage in.

Between Ash Wednesday and Easter there are 40 days in which to try out new ways of living and worshipping, whether it’s adding a daily prayer habit or reading a new devotional. Some people give up chocolate or meat or Facebook as a way of reminding themselves that this is a special time of introspection. When we don’t log in to social media or forgo the burger, we are reminded that we are trying to focus more on God’s way of life and God’s love for us and all creation.

Toward the end of his book, Van Dyke asks, “is not love the light of the soul?” The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church is fond of saying “If it’s not about love, it’s not about God.” Artaban learned that his life-long actions of compassion and healing were ways of sharing that love and worshipping the One he sought.

It’s easy to think we have to do something grand to serve God. We are encouraged by culture to ‘make a splash’ and outdo each other. What if instead we tried to support each other in our hesitant and hopeful faith journeys? What if we had compassion on the ‘least of these’ and offered a smile or a bottle of water or a compliment instead of looking the other way? What if we sought to encourage someone who is sad or sick? What if we found less reason to argue and more points of agreement? What if we were less competitive toward one another?

All these are ways to serve Christ in each other. All these are ways to show and share the love of God. Jesus told his disciples, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)

Artaban learned that it was in the spending of his wealth, and his life, that he found the King. He learned to love God in each person he helped.

How will you share God’s love this Lent? Is there something you can take on, or give up, to make it easier to love your neighbor or love yourself?

Epiphany 7 and Ash Wednesday

Epiphany is the season when the lectionary readings explore ways Christ and God are made ‘manifest’ or clearly seen. As the hymn Songs of Thankfulness and Praise* notes this happens in many ways. Jesus was “Manifested by the star/To the sages from afar”. Then again, “Manifest at Jordan's stream…at Cana, Wedding-guest/In Thy Godhead manifest”. The hymn goes on to tell of healing, “Ever bringing good from ill.” There is a foreshadowing of the coming darkness of Lent and joy of Easter when we sing, “Sun and moon shall darkened be/Stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee/Christ will then like lightning shine….Thou by all wilt be confessed.” Finally, we ask for “grace to see Thee, Lord/ [to] imitate Thee now…God in man made manifest.”

Throughout Epiphany we looked at the way God was ‘manifest’ in the lives of the men and women of the Book of Ruth in the Bible. We heard from them how God acted in and through their lives, even when they weren’t aware of it. The were evangelists for God, even though they didn’t necessarily know that. We also are evangelists for God. We make God visible to the people and world we interact with, too. It’s an awe-some responsibility. 

If you want to delve even further into the story of Naomi and your own faith journey, you can get the just completed study guide that supplements my book, Naomi’s Joy. Called Rooted in the Tree of Life the study helps you think about your story by considering Naomi’s life and Jeremiah 17:8. Over the 6 sessions, you’ll create a ‘tree’ to represent your faith journey and gain insight into the work of God in your life. If you are looking for a Lenten study, this might be it! You can download the study, or request a print copy ($5 to cover shipping) by emailing Cynthia. 





Wednesday of this week is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. During the 40 days of Lent, I’ll be exploring ways we might RE-Turn to God. The prefix ‘RE’ means ‘do again’ or ‘go back’. We will explore how we RE-Solve to turn to God, how we work to RE-Pent, as well as RE-Member as we seek to RE-Concile, RE-Store and allow God to RE-Create us during Lent. Then we are able to celebrate RE-Surrection. There will be optional directions for creating a Lent Box aid to use throughout the season.

The Lent retreat of the Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande has the same theme. It will be led by the Rev. Canon Lee Curtis, who will have his own way of looking at this way of moving through Lent toward RE-Surrection. More info on the Women’s Ministry website.



*Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise,
Manifested by the star
To the sages from afar,
Branch of royal David's stem,
In Thy birth at Bethlehem.
Anthems be to Thee addressed
God in man made manifest.

2. Manifest at Jordan's stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme,
And at Cana, Wedding-guest,
In Thy Godhead manifest;
Manifest in power divine,
Changing water into wine.
Anthems be to Thee addressed
God in man made manifest.

3. Manifest in making whole
Palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight,
Quelling all the devil's might;
Manifest in gracious will,
Ever bringing good from ill.
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

4. Sun and moon shall darkened be,
Stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine,
All will see His glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear,
All will see the Judge appear;
Thou by all wilt be confessed,
God in man made manifest.

5. Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Mirrored in Thy holy Word;
May we imitate Thee now
And be pure as pure art Thou
That we like to Thee may be
At Thy great Epiphany
And may praise Thee, ever blest,
God in man made manifest.

Ash Wednesday

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.

Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

From the Liturgy for Ash Wednesday, Episcopal Book of Common Prayer

Ash Wednesday

I invite you to follow Lent Lines on either Facebook or the Women's Ministry website this Lent. There will be a series of inspirational postings. Some prayers, some special sayings or poetry, maybe just a picture. Sometimes it will be a combination like this prayer for Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday

Have you ever wondered WHY we do Ash Wednesday and WHAT Lent is about. Here's a video that might help.

For your personal devotions, here's the Litany for Ash Wednesday from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Old Testament: Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17
Epistle: II Corinthians 5: 20b—6: 10
Gospel: Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided  a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful  were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.

Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the  earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness;  in your great compassion blot out my offenses.

Wash me through and through from my wickedness  and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you only have I sinned  and done what is evil in your sight.
And so you are justified when you speak  and upright in your judgment
Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth,  a sinner from my mother's womb.
For behold, you look for truth deep within me,  and will make me understand wisdom secretly.
Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure;  wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
Make me hear of joy and gladness,  that the body you have broken may rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins  and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,  and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence  and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again  and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
I shall teach your ways to the wicked,  and sinners shall return to you.
Deliver me from death, O God, and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness, O God of my salvation.
Open my lips, O Lord,  and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice;  but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit;  a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
 
Litany of Penitence

Most holy and merciful Father: We confess to you and to one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on earth, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, Lord.

We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, Lord.

We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
We confess to you, Lord.

Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
Accept our repentance, Lord.

For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.

For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.

Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us;
Favorably hear us, for your mercy is great.

Accomplish in us the work of your salvation,
That we may show forth your glory in the world.

By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord,
Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desires not the death of sinners, but rather that they may turn from their wickedness and live, has given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardons and absolves all those who truly repent, and with sincere hearts believe his holy Gospel.

Therefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do on this day, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Join me for a series of Lent meditations, loosely based on Lent in a Bag, starting on Sunday.

Ash Wednesday 2010

Today is Ash Wednesday. In the Christian calendar this is the day Lent starts. The season of Lent is the 40 days before Easter. It is a time of self-examination and repentence for things 'done and left undone'. Repentence is too often used to beat yourself up about things you did wrong. The word repent however means to turn again. Repentence is really a Turning Again from self to God!

If you go to church today, you will be signed with ashes on your forehead and be reminded "remember you are but dust and to dust you shall return." In Genesis mankind is created from the dust of the new creation and so we are reminded that we are the created ones not the CREATOR.

Lent is a good time to look at the baggage we take on our journey and work on simplifying our lives. Simplifying doesn’t necessarily mean ‘giving up’ something. Sometimes it means becoming more true to your own calling and gifts. In this blog, we will take brief looks at several of the women in the Bible and see how their lives benefited from simplifying and evaluating their lives.

I invite you to stop by each week during Lent and see what women like Rahab, Leah, Mary and Martha have to say to us in our 21st century world.