Ash Wednesday Service

~~At the end of the service, there was an audible, “amen.”

It was a fitting end to a time of self awareness in confession and repentance.

Our journey toward unity with God, family, Jesus, within the church and with friends began last night at the Ash Wednesday worship.

The sanctuary, lit with soft candlelight, filled with sounds of hymns from the cross, was set up as a journey from where we are to where we could be.

Confession, rather than being onerous, was portrayed as cleansing, unburdening and revelatory.

Burning the sins was a way to release them to God and receive grace.

Hearing a teenager pronounce “from dust you come and unto dust you shall return,”recalls how God could take anything and make something.

The mark of the cross with ashes brought me face to face with another “marked” Christian and a moment of precious fellowship by the Lysol in Wal-Mart at 9:30.

Thanks to Liz who played the organ for an hour, the elders who held communion until their arms ached, and to the choir who had to practice late.

Thanks to Kristy Horine who spent at least 20 hours coordinating  and  helping Dianne publish the devotional. (There will be more copies available on Sunday.)

Thanks to our readers, guides, ashes team, bread maker and to all those who came to this service. It may have been one of our largest Ash Wednesday congregations.
 
Thanks to each of you who have written a devotion for inclusion in the Daily Pauses for the Season of Lent. When I glanced at one of the writings, I was moved to tears. See how these devotions move you.

And I am ever amazed at my sweet son, who, when listening to scripture read about Jesus and the cross, sitting before an artist’s rendition of Jesus, could be seen wiping tears from his eyes. His heart is moved by things that matter.

Moving to the deeper places.
Jeff