It’s Ash Wednesday as I write this; one of my favourite days of the church year. Some of you will remember times when most Protestant churches didn’t have Ash Wednesday services. I don’t remember any from my growing up years, however, when I came back to church in my mid-thirties and immediately dove deep into all the practices, the church I attended did have an Ash Wednesday service and so it quickly became part of my faith life. St. James is the first church I have served that doesn’t have a tradition of an Ash Wednesday Service and so last year I attended a neighbouring church’s service. I am home with a migraine today, so no service for me this year, however, we are incorporating a short Ash Wednesday ritual into the beginning of worship on Sunday, the first week of Lent. As all practices we incorporate into worship, this is invitational and an attempt to create additional ways to connect with the sacred.
Some people ‘give up’ something for Lent, some people ‘take on’ something for Lent. I have signed up for 40acts; a generosity practice. In these times of polarization and ‘othering’ I’m trying to keep my heart soft and open. And I need all the help I can get.
The theme for worship this Lenten season is Everything In Between: Finding God in the Extremes and the first scripture reading is one of the most challenging of all scripture, where Jesus askes: Who is our neighbour? Luke 10:25-37. With everything that is happening south of our border, these words of Jesus are much more than ancient words on a page, they are words that challenge us. I’m not sure just where I’m going with my reflection at the moment, but I trust God and I will wrestle some message into place by Sunday!
I was introduced to the writing of Rev. Cameron Trimble in her book Piloting Faith and she writes a daily blog post to which I subscribe. Here is one she wrote entitled Loving Our (Canadian) Neighbor).
We had a GREAT Scouting Sunday last week; I was really pleased by how many scouts, cubs and beavers attended, along with their leaders and parents. And so happy my idea with the shoeboxes and fruits of the spirit and the Scout Law unfolded as I had imagined it! Thanks to Reid Harrison and Jackie Clark for taking some photos.
No rundown of my week today… suffice to say all the things that need to get done will get done. The only thing really out of the ordinary this week is that I’m speaking at Parkland on Friday afternoon for their International Women’s Day event.
I leave you with this Ash Wednesday Blessing
WILL YOU MEET US?
A Blessing for Ash Wednesday
Will you meet us
in the ashes,
will you meet us
in the ache
and show your face
within our sorrow
and offer us
your word of grace:
That you are life
within the dying,
that you abide
within the dust,
that you are what
survives the burning,
that you arise
to make us new.
And in our aching,
you are breathing;
and in our weeping,
you are here
within the hands
that bear your blessing,
enfolding us
within your love.
—Jan Richardson
from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons
St. James United Church Dartmouth 