An Ash Wednesday Reflection.
Tonight is designed for worship and reflection. We want you to worship however you feel comfortable. Feel free to sit, stand, find a pillow, journal at the back stations, or express yourself through art on our wall at any time during our gathering. We just ask that you take others into consideration and do not distract.
Throughout the night you may be asked to participate in worship and stations. You can take your time with these, and do not feel pressured to participate. It is up to you.
Ash Wednesday traditionally begins the season of Lent.
What is Lent?
Lent is a period of prayer and fasting prior to Easter. The major theme of Lent is repentance. It has its roots in the practices of the early church although the name, length and strictness of the fast has changed over time. We know from early manuscripts (the Council of Nicea, writings of St. Athanasius, etc.) that the practice of observing a period of extended fasting before Easter was already fairly well established by the early 4th Century. The idea of forty days of Lent is drawn from the biblical example of Christ fasting for forty days in the desert before beginning his public ministry.
When is Lent observed?
In the West (Catholic & Anglican) it begins on Ash Wednesday and last for 40 days until Palm or Passion Sunday. In the East the Orthodox churches begin Lent seven weeks prior to Easter or Pascha, which falls on the Monday prior to Ash Wednesday.
What is Ash Wednesday?
The traditional start of Lent in the West—Orthodox churches do not commemorate this day—is called Ash Wednesday. The name is taken from the liturgical practice of receiving and wearing ashes on one’s forehead. This devotional practice can be accurately traced back to at least the 8th Century. Ashes are a biblical symbol of repentance from Old Testament times. The church continued the use of ashes to mark those who were performing public acts of penance. Traditionally the ashes are derived from burning palm branches used during the prior year’s celebration of Palm/Passion Sunday. The ashes are traced on the forehead in the sign of the cross by a minister who recites one of the following prayers:
"Remember, man, that you are dust and unto dust you shall return." or
"Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." or
"Repent, and hear the good news."
Why bother with liturgical seasons anyway?
Although it’s hard to remember in Florida, the idea of seasons is woven into the very fabric of creation. Life is full of seasons and cycles, ebbs and flows, it is a deep reality in each of us and can be seen in the fact that all native religions are centered on changing seasons. The practice of keeping liturgical seasons is a way of recognizing this reality and redeeming it.
Keep this paper. There is a list of ideas for you to use later in this gathering.
You are welcome to sit, pray, write at a journal station, or express yourself through art on the wall.
What is God asking you to step away from: sacrifice, fast, abstain, give up?
Ideas for food related fasting:
· A meal: dinners or lunch on weekdays
· A specific type of food or drink: meat, soda, alcohol, ice cream, desserts, gum, candy, bread…
· Abstain from eating at a certain time or place: eating after 6:00 pm, between lunch and dinner, all restaurants or just fast foods
Ideas for activity related fasting
· Shopping (other than food and necessities): all buying or specific items like clothes and or shoes
· Reading: romance novels or other specific types of books or magazines
· Listening to the radio
· Entertainment: going out to the movies, renting videos, a particular TV show,
· Sports: watching sports, playing sports
· “Screen Time” (abstain completely or specific time limit): video games, internet, blogging, facebook, eBay
· Hobbies: working on an old car, sewing, scrap booking…
· Smoking
· Swearing
· Lying
· Acting out in anger
Ideas for item related fasting
· A particular object or “toy”
Ideas for attitude related fasting
· Worry
· Lust
· Blaming
What is God asking you to step towards: exchange, gain, replace, pick up?
· Memorize scripture
· Pray for others
· Read the Bible
· Meditate (ponder, “think it over”) a book of the Bible, a Psalm, Proverb, or on Jesus’ sacrifice and forgiveness
· Practice silence, listen for and waiting on God
· Read other spiritual related material
· Write in a journal
· Ask God to lead you to compose a song or poem
· Quality time with family or friends
· Do acts of service or kindness, volunteer
· Listening to someone
· Take the money you would have spent on the food or actively you are sacrificing and give it away.