Save the date for Ash Wednesday February 14, 2018. We aren’t the typical church and this isn’t a typical Ash Wednesday service.
Ever wondered why the ash or maybe you felt like Lent was all doom and gloom? This year I’d like to invite you into a different approach.
On Ash Wednesday you are invited to come to church for “Ashes and Prayer” at a time that is convenient to you. From 11:45am-12:30pm and from 5:30-6:15pm we will have Communion, Interactive Prayer Stations, and Ashes available. In other words, this is kind of an open house for Ashes and Prayer. When you arrive, you will be invited to come in and participate in whatever station feels appropriate. If you’d like to come and simply receive ashes in the sign of the cross and share in communion – you are welcome to do so and leave. If you’d like to do one or more of the other prayer stations, you are welcome to do so. You can even do the other stations and skip the ashes if you’d like. The stations will be simple prayer practices to invite you into a time of contemplation, this season of reflection we call Lent. They will be accessible for all ages and abilities.
The season of Lent begins with a call to repent, which means to “turn around.” This year, we will turn from our apathy, turn from simply “going through the motions” of our life and worship. We will turn from these things because we know that for many of God’s children, their lives depend on our willingness to initiate and support a lasting change. Instead we will pray to be active instruments of peace, agents of change in the world. We begin the journey toward renewing our baptismal identity as the hands and feet of Christ by “re-cognizing”–turning our minds and hearts toward the world and its peoples. From this act we will move our minds and our bodies toward concrete action and work that promotes systemic change.
Our hope is that this pause will help you set the tone for our Lenten them of “Roll Down, Justice” where we explore the ways our baptismal identity and identity as children of God call us to seek justice and peace for all people.
I am excited to share this time and space in worship with you. I hope to see you soon!
Peace,
Rev. Kara