February 22, 2012

Soup Supper

Ash Wednesday begins the church's liturgical season of Lent, a 40 day period of preparation leading to the annual celebration of Easter. Many Christians mark this day of repentance with prayers and with the imposition (or marking) of ashes on their foreheads. This reminder of our common human weakness and sinfulness declares that apart from Christ's salvation and healing, we are marked indelibly by sin, decay and death.

In earlier times, the season before Easter prepared new believers for baptism and restored Christians who had committed serious sin and had strayed from the path of discipleship back to the fellowship of the church. Today, along with these traditional practices, the church encourages all its members to engage in self-examination and heartfelt repentance; times of prayer, acts of self-denial such as fasting and service; and reading and meditating on the Holy Scriptures.

As a parish, we have several opportunities to enter into the spirit of this Lenten season, encouraging repentance for our sins and thanks for the gracious salvation God won for his people through the work of our Savior Jesus Christ. Please join us in Lent as we prepare our hearts to hear the call to repentance and amendment of life and celebrate the joy of Easter.