In just a few days, people from around the world will gather in churches and hear some words pretty similar to these:

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

What words are stirred up in you when you hear these words? What action/s might you take?

During the Ash Wednesday service I will use these words to invite you into Lent and to come forward for the imposition of ashes:

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.

The liturgy on Ash Wednesday is filled with amazing images and actions that it asks of us.

Grace Church has had some pretty serious blessings and tensions. What act of repentance do you need to do during Lent?

Are there people who need to offer apologies to you? What will it take for all of that to happen?

Take a moment to get in your favorite prayer position and ponder where you are in your life and what you need to do and who you need to be during Lent and into the future.

Peace,

Shawn

 

 

Grace Church, Oak Park will hold a Memorial Service for The Rev. Dr. Michael A. Johnston, former Rector of Grace Church, on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.