Truth Telling — Introducing Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is one of my favourite times of the liturgical year. Sure, Christmas is fun; and Christianity is anchored in the Easter Festival. We enjoy communion with Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit celebrated at Pentecost. But despite the richness of all these great festivals, I still find Ash Wednesday profound and specially relevant.

You are dust; and to dust, you shall return.

We do come from the dust of the earth, and to this same soil we shall return. I have been present for the birth of my two children; I have likewise laid many persons in the ground or at final resting place. I’ve seen ‘em come and I’ve seen ‘em go. Ash Wednesday reminds me of my roots, and helps me prepare for a future in God. I know this for certain; details however remain a little vague.

Ash Wednesday is the great leveler, no matter what happens to us and through us in life. All physical life comes to en end, sometimes suddenly, sometimes slowly, sometimes like “a thief in the night? Death is not the end; we are mortal; through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead we shall all be raised. Our legacy remains as innovation dissolves. Time loses its grip.

Dear friends in Christ,
every year at the time of the Christian Passover
we celebrate our redemption
through the death and resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We begin our journey to Easter
with the sign of ashes, an ancient sign,
speaking of the frailty and uncertainty
of human life, and marking the penitence
of the community as a whole.

I have titled this year’s observance Truth Telling. Ash Wednesday, and the Season of Lent itself, help us discover and tell the truth about ourselves, about our community which we engage through our relationships. Lent and Ash Wednesday remind us of who we are and whose we are by the grace and mercy of God. While sometimes disturbing, such discovery is actually Good News, because it is truthful. As one of my collegial musicians used to say: “No more fuddle-duddle.”

Lent is an introspective season. If we shoulder the Lenten disciplines of self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and by reading and meditating on the word of God we will find our time has been well spent. Lent is the season where we jump off life’s merry-go-round, even for a time, not necessarily a good time, but so that time (which is precious) will be well spent.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
— From Psalm 51

For those who wish it, my colleague, the Rev. Anne Ellis, will draw an ashen cross on our forehead. There are a number of occasions in which Anglicans and others mark each other—branded like cattle if you will— as followers of Jesus. Newborn and adult candidates for baptism are marked with the sign of the cross using holy oil. Near or at the time of death the oil of unction marks the departing Christian soul. In ministries of healing oil blessed by a bishop is imposed; and finally, on Ash Wednesday, the ashen residue of last year’s palm crosses are inscribed on the forehead for those who desire it.

We will not celebrate Holy Eucharist this year though another service in Penticton will offer Eucharistic ministry at the same time as ours. This year in Summerland we are combining the style and mood of the weekly Summerland United Church contemplative prayer service with Anglican practice.

We will listen to a variety of beautiful music including a composition by the late Robert Willis, former dean of Canterbury Cathedral in the UK. The music and text are for me personal favourites.

In a world where people walk in darkness
Let us turn our faces to the light,
to the light of God revealed in Jesus,
to the Daystar scattering our night.
For the light is stronger than the darkness
And the day will overcome the night.
Though the shadows linger all around us,
Let us turn our faces to the light.

As the shadows linger, the light can still be seen. The light will never be extinguished, but wow, the two do wrestle sometimes. Just look around,  right now.

Our service will conclude with a famous Anglican prayer set to music by Richard Farrant (1525-1580)

Lord, for thy tender mercy’s sake,
lay not our sins to our charge,
but forgive that is past,
and give us grace to amend our sinful lives.
To decline from sin and incline to virtue,
that we may walk in a perfect heart before thee,
now and evermore.
—Book of Common Prayer

All are welcome to join us this coming Wednesday. Now and at all times, blessings as you go . .

Wednesday, March 5 at 10 a.m.
St. Stephen Anglican Church
9311 Prairie Road at Rosedale in Summerland
Abundant parking — Accessible facility
Ken Gray, officiating — Anne Ellis, assisting