By Pastor Kris Hertsgaard
Kincaid
Christ Lutheran Church, Preston
“These days of dust. These days of despair. We can hear reality speak to us in a clear, ringing voice. So we approach. Carefully. Barely ready to hear the heard truths we long to be told about beautiful, terrible death.” -Kate Bowler, “Have a Beautiful Terrible Lent”
This Wednesday, February 14, is the beginning of the season of Lent, the 40-day season (excluding Sundays) of penitence and preparation for the three days of Holy Week and Easter. Each year we approach Lent with new questions, reflections, and practices.
One common practice in churches on Ash Wednesday is to be marked with the sign of the cross with ashes. We are first marked with the cross using water at our baptisms as we celebrate new life as beloved children of God. On Ash Wednesday we are marked with the cross with ashes and reminded of the finitude of life. As we journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter, we are held in God’s love, and we encounter God in experiences of reconciliation, transfiguration, crucifixion, restoration, and resurrection.
Lent calls us to reflect. When we we take time for reflection it often helps us consider life’s choices, like what summer camps our kids will attend, or about college, work, and relationships. Lenten reflections ask us to consider our faith and life and how we are bearing witness to God in the world. How do we recognize God’s presence? How do we share the good news of God’ love with others? Most local churches hold an evening worship service on Ash Wednesday. I invite you to embrace an old tradition, or start a new tradition, and gather with others in a church community on Ash Wednesday. Worship times are listed on church websites.
Jesus says, “Follow me.” This season we follow Jesus through hard and holy times. We walk this road together and God forms faith in us step by step.