This Wednesday, February 17th, is Ash Wednesday. With the mark of the Ash (a reminder of our mortality) we begin the Lenten Journey. Lent is a time of introspection and contemplation. Lent is a period of time set aside in the Christian calendar to remember who I am, and whose I am. Lent is 40 days (excluding Sundays) set aside to identify how we’ve wandered from the path of love, and find new ways of return.
The Lenten journey is a journey that takes us to the cross, through the suffering, pain and anguish, to new life, resurrection. As we begin our Lenten journey, I share the following affirmation of faith for Lent from Patmos Abbey, The Order of Saint Columba:
Lenten Creed
We believe that our lives are held within the encircling love of God, who knows our names and recognizes our deepest needs.
We believe that Christ is the divine Child of the living God,and that his grace is like living waters that can never be exhausted.
We believe in the birthing, renewing, enabling Spirit of Godwho yearns over our welfare as a mother yearns for her child.
We believe that God is in the arid desert as well as in green pastures,and that hard times and disciplines are also loving gifts.
We believe that our journey has a purpose and a destination,and that our path leads to a human glory we cannot yet imagine.
We believe that in the church we are fellow pilgrims on the road,and that we are called to love one another as God loves us.
This is our faith and we are humbled to profess in Jesus the Christ.
Amen.
(from Traveling to Easter with Jesus as our Guide, posted on the website of Patmos Abbey—The Order of Saint Columba. http://www.patmosabbey.org/)
Join the journey this Lent, it begins Ash Wednesday, February 17th, 7:30pm. In preparation for the service, stop in the church office to pick up your packet of ashes for your use in your home Wednesday evening. I look forward to making the journey with you!
Through Christ,
Pastor Doug