Ashes to Go

Ashes are an ancient sign of penitence.
From the Middle Ages it became the
custom to begin Lent by being marked in
ash with the sign of the cross. The
reminder that we are dust turns our
attention to the creative power of God,
and God’s ability to heal the brokenness in
our lives when we offer that brokenness to
God. That turning to God is the work of
Lent, preparation for the celebration of
Easter.
We’re offering ashes in the union today because that reminder of
need, humility, and healing shouldn’t be
confined to a church building. We
probably need it more when we are in the
middle of our daily business! The ashes we
receive here are to remind us throughout
the day of our need for God, and of God’s
call to us.
There is much more to the beginning of
Lent than ashes alone, and we encourage
you to make time for worship with a
community of faith, for the support of
others and of the great traditions of faith
in our work of repentance and renewal.
But God meets us not just in worship, but
in the midst of life, and we offer the
opportunity to remember our faith to
those whose schedules make it hard to
stop and pray with others today.