Ash Wednesday and Lent 2012

Lent begins a week from today. We are having an Ash Wednesday Service to kick it off. It will be at TCC's church building on Wednesday, February 22nd at 7pm. Parents are encouraged to bring their kids to the service.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. “Lent” is a term derived from Anglo-Saxon, meaning “long days” or “spring”. It dates from the 4th century and was a time of special discipline for those who were to be baptized on Easter. In time, it became a spring period of fasting and penitence for all, in preparation for Easter.

The distribution of ashes has a long history in Christianity and its roots in the Bible. The ashes indicated the utter helplessness of our power, and the need for radical dependence upon the merciful power of God.

The use of ashes, coupled often with the tearing of the clothing, could of course be abused. Abuse arose when people regarded the outward act as a good work by which they could turn God’s anger away. God tells the people through the prophet Joel, “Tear your hearts, not your clothing” (Joel 2:12-13). God wants our hearts emptied of all self-righteousness so that God may enter our lives by grace.

On Ash Wednesday, we participate in the imposition of ashes on our foreheads in the form of a small cross. The word of God to Adam is addressed to each individual, “You are dust and to dust you will return” (Gen. 3:19). This is an outward sign of the inward sorrow and repentance you have for sinning against God and man.

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