Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent in the church. Lent is a season of forty days (not counting Sundays) and is a season of preparation for Easter. According to the United Methodist Book of Worship, Lent began as period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts to the Christian faith and then became a time of penance for all Christians. Lent is a time of spiritual renewal. The term Lent literally means "spring." It is a time of renewal, rebirth and new life. This works well for those of us living in the northern hemisphere where it literally is springtime.
Ash Wednesday is a time for the community of faith to gather and reflect on our own mortality and confess our sin before God. During the service, worshipers are invited to receive ashes on their forehead as a reminder that we were created from the dust of the earth and to dust we shall all return some day. Nevertheless, we who believe receive eternal life. Though we die, yet shall we live. Ash Wednesday is a somber time, a time of reflection, and a time to decide how to grow closer to Christ.
The Ash Wednesday worship experience at Acts 2 will be on Wednesday, February 25 at 6:30 p.m. (There will be a time for children with Rev. Nancy during the service and they will have their own lesson during Rev. Mark's message as we do each Sunday morning at Acts 2.)
There are numerous traditions associated with the season of Lent. During the next few weeks, I will be posting information daily about these traditions as well as my own collection of thoughts about the season of Lent. In addition, I will post scriptures that are often read during Lent with some of my reflections on God's Word.
Blessed be God who forgives all our sins,
Pastor Scott
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