Ash Wednesday- Feb 17, 2021

Ash Wednesday February 17, 2021 The Rev. Mark Pendleton A few words tonight about ashes, and dust, and repentance. There has been a lot of conversation in church circles about the 'how' of imposing ashes on this solemn day during a pandemic. Safely distant. No practical way to Purell ashes - what a mess that would be! My seminary professor reminded his former students that the Book of Common Prayer says, "If ashes are to be imposed...." These words make clear that this ritual act is optional. For those who may be worshipping with us from home on this cold February night, whether you were able to make your own ashes or picked some up from the church, I hope you can rest in knowing that there is more to this day than how or if we trace crosses on our foreheads. We know that Ash Wednesday marks the first day of the season of Lent, the forty days set aside to prepare to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. What we hear tonight is the traditional Call to A Holy Lent. "I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word." To me there is a certain remoteness to observe something - to stand apart and watch and notice. I suppose we've all been practicing observing more these weeks and months -- standing back, further away from loved ones and friends. In most years, the Call to a Holy Lent comes with it an invitation to "Come Home." Come back to church worship more frequently. Find time to pray again. Ready yourself for the Easter that awaits. Come closer and reconnect with community. We can hear this invitation to come home and gather in the ancient words of the prophet Joel 2:1-2, 12-17: Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. When I hear these words, I think of the lavish party thrown for the prodigal son when he was welcomed home by his father. Forgiven. Restored. When a storm is on the horizon, what people do in every culture is to sound the alarms and gather and protect what is most valuable to them. We probably need to find new ways this year to gather by reaching out. Almost a year in, this can be a renewed season to connect, call, email, Zoom, visit when safe and possible. Join our book group, the men's group, women's group. Any group. Join David for Compline on Wednesday evenings. If ashes find themselves on our foreheads this year, hear these words: "remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Remember that God created all of humanity from the earth. (Genesis 2:7). And we will all return in some way at some time - to the earth from whence we came. We all return to our eternal home, for we are made from the stuff of creation. Dirt. Soil. Carbon molecules. We are connected in our atomic makeup to all that was and all that will ever be. For many, ashes are signs of our mortality. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust," we pronounce over the dead. And, if we don't favor pondering our mortality, there is another option. Consider and celebrate our aliveness. Many of you I know get up each day and give thanks for the life we have been given and to prepare for the challenges and the joys the day can bring. Remember the collect for Ash Wednesday: God, you hate nothing you have made. To become instruments of God's peace and work to build up the Kingdom of God that Jesus himself proclaimed, we cannot send much love out into the world if we are captive to hate. Too many have internalized a lie that was said about them and to them: that they are not worthy of love. For the person God made them and for what they may have done. And hate, we know, is in abundant supply in today's world. Behind hate is fear and we know we hear again and again in Scripture to not be afraid. How will regather our communities when "this" is behind us? These are the ways we have to move forward: the example of the life of Jesus. Humility. A desire to turn and change: and the church calls that repentance. Ready or not, Lent is upon us. Walk with us, fellow pilgrims. Sit in the silence and struggle through the wilderness. We will gather again at the River. Easter Resurrection is our promise. 1