Ashes

2 March 2022

Ashes.

Today, on Ash Wednesday, we mark ashes on each other’s foreheads.

Ashes shaped in the cross of Christ accompany these words, “Woman/man remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.” While the pastor will say the words gently, the statement might come as a harsh slap in the face, reminding us of the reality we try to daily forget. Without God’s daily grace and breath, we are dead men/women walking.

Where do we get the ashes that we use?

Many congregations burn the palm branches waved in Palm Sunday services. We remember that many of the same Jerusalem residents who waved palm branches for Jesus during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem quickly shifted their shouts of “Alleluia” to “Crucify him!” days later when they disagreed with his version of messiahship. By accepting palm ash on our heads we admit our connection to those earlier deniers of Jesus. We, too, turn too often our backs on Jesus’ agenda for our lives.

Alternatively, and sadly, today, I suppose we could get our ashes from Ukraine. We could find rubble from bombed buildings or the soot from burned homes. While we rightly accuse Russian dictator Vladimir Putin for this horror, we could all admit those times when conflict in our homes or work places was our responsibility. We can wear ash today in repentance of humanity’s collective and historic propensity to act like the people of war’s burnt ash instead of baptized children breathing sacred spirit. (Please see last week’s Word from Wiese as we pray for a reported 500,000 Ukrainians who have fled the country. They join another 84 million individuals displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations).

Sadly, too, I know if we couldn’t find enough ash in the COS sacristy, we could ask you to fly out west to gather some. California endured in 2021 their second worst year of fires on record. Or you could fly to northern Utah where my friend’s family had to evacuate their home for a week because of fires raging on the next ridge over. According to my friend, a historic drought and changing weather realities are to blame. Yes, in several states we could find plenty of fire ash to mark our foreheads, accepted by some of us in a spirit of repentance that we don’t pay enough attention to our increasing climate changes. (When all is said and done, and as part of judgment day when Jesus evaluates my ministry, one of my fears is that he’ll reveal that I did not do enough to challenge my congregations to vigilantly consider their discipleship duties as caretakers of our utterly unique creation).

From wherever we get our ash, it’s an important and powerful act to receive Christ’s ashen cross with those bracing words of perspective. “You are dust and to dust you will return.” So please join Christians around the world in this opportunity, the beginning to our Lenten season.

Three options for you at Christ Our Shepherd today:

From 11AM-1PM, you can drive through the parking lot. You can stay in your car or get out for a brief prayer and imposition of ash.
A family service designed for children will be held in the sanctuary at 5 PM.
Finally, an intergenerational service of Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes in the sanctuary will be at 6.30 PM.

Hopefully we take the challenge that “we are dust” seriously. If so, together this Lent we have a chance to seek God’s renewing breath of connection. Read in tomorrow’s email the details of our 5G Connected Faith Lenten Series. We will unpack 5 G words, all gifts from Jesus for our transfigured lives. Our holy 40 days includes weekend worship, emails on Monday and Friday, a Wednesday worship link, and 5G Connection Groups. Inform yourself and take action so you can participate.

Asking for ashes with you,

Pastor Fritz