It is ash wednesday. In a few hours the day will break and the sun will rise. I will go to work, I will serve communion to those that are not able to come to the Chruch any more who reside at the Glen Ridge. I will make crosses with ashes from last years Palm Suday Palm branches on their foreheads. I will return to the office and do some more work and then will come the worship in the sanctuary. We will not only ashed on our foreheads, remembering Jesus we will share the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and then anointing with oil for healing will be done during worship as well. Oh yes, I get to preach there. The Psalm for the day will be Psalm 51. So it begins ..... the lenten journey of this year. I can hardly wait!
our denomination's website Presbyteiran Church U.S.A. explains Ash Wednesday very well. So here it is.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent with a public act of confession and contrition. Acknowledging that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we stand in solidarity as fellow creatures before our Creator, acutely aware of our mortality. In the face of our transience, we pledge ourselves anew to live unto God’s Word in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word that remains forever.
Historically, Ash Wednesday was a time when penitents were presented for church discipline during Lent, culminating in reconciliation on Maundy Thursday. Ash Wednesday is also the occasion when would-be disciples of Christ known as catechumens were enrolled in the catechumenate, a special time of learning the basics of the faith in preparation for baptism on Easter Sunday or during the Easter Vigil. In some traditions, Ash Wednesday is a fast day, beginning the Lenten time of fasting and preparation for the Great Three Days that culminate in Easter.
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