Yesterday - March 6th - was Ash Wednesday, a special day celebrated in many Christian churches. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the beginning
of the 40 weekdays before Easter. Lent is observed in many Christian churches
as a period of prayer, fasting, confession, repentance, and self-denial. It
echoes the 40 days in the wilderness Jesus spent fasting and overcoming
temptation. It also assists Christians in focusing on Jesus resolute journey
leading to his crucifixion and resurrection. We learn to identify with his
unwavering obedience. We recognize the price he paid for us.
Our faith journey, described in Changing Churches, began in a United Methodist Church - a church that observes Ash Wednesday. Throughout our years there, Ash Wednesday
marked the beginning of a solemn and holy time of reflection. While searching
for a church in 2008 we attended an Ash Wednesday service at another Methodist
Church. I noted in my journal:
We sang six
verses of "Just as I Am" and "There is a Fountain Filled
with Blood." The hymns, responsive readings, confession, and
pastor's message, touched and filled us. We received ashes in the shape of
the cross on our foreheads and took Communion - opening and recommitting ourselves
to Him. What a sacred event!
Prayer Journaling
In 2004 the teacher of my ladies Bible class mentioned journaling Psalm 51 (about
David's sin), one phrase at a time, for the forty days of Lent. This proved to
be a sobering but valuable exercise. In order to build up the church,
Christians must change and grow. We must face our own sin and repent. The next
forty days are a good time to focus on this in prayer.
Understanding the Church Calendar
For those not in a liturgical church, Mark Galli's explanation from his book Beyond Smells and Bells,
may help you appreciate the emphasis on the church calendar. He writes:
The church
calendar aims at nothing less than to change the way we experience time
and perceive reality. . . . Advent signals the new year. For the church,
the annual rhythm is not winter, spring, summer and fall, but Advent,
Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. . . . The church calendar
is not about the cycle of life - school or sports or harvest time - but about
the movement of history toward a glorious goal. We celebrate the past events of
history not merely to remember them, but note how they infuse the present
with meaning and power, and point us to our future hope.
Let this be a Holy season for all Christians to ponder and pray
and deepen our faith.
Blessings, Dottie
Dottie: Thank you for the suggestion of journaling Psalm 51 during the days of Lent. Due to illness, I have gotten off track with journaling about my devotions that I read. I was unable to attend service last night. I always feel incomplete when I miss worship service, especially Ash Wednesday service. Please pray for me as I get through these acute respiratory illnesses that have come upon me. Peace and blessings.
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