Receiving Ashes

[Lamb]

My current church isn't close to my home so I did not attend Ash Wednesday but I used to at my previous church.

Did you go receive ashes yesterday? I know a lot of people don't understand what it means.

 

[Tigger]

Yep, my wife and I were able to attend. Our church is just under thirty minutes on an evening like that twenty minutes on a Sunday morning. That's about as far as I'll drive for extra services.

 

[psalms 91]

No had another servise at the other church

 

[TurtleHare]

The origins of putting on ashes is from the old testament so it is a nice connection knowing God's people realize that it is to recognize our humility and humanity. I got mine on the back of my hand and the service was a nice way to begin the Lenten season.

 

[Josiah]

My current church isn't close to my home so I did not attend Ash Wednesday but I used to at my previous church.

Did you go receive ashes yesterday? I know a lot of people don't understand what it means.

Yup. I did.

We had a beautiful, moving service. Well attended. We even had some guests.


A blessed Lent to you and yours!


- Josiah

 

[Full O Beans]

No, it is not recognized by people who realize that it is unnecessary as well as not just a little Pharisaical.



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[TurtleHare]

No one says you have to receive ashes so don't bother turning this into an argument thread. No one wants to hear it.

The Lenten season is a perfect time to reflect on our sinfulness and humble ourselves in repentance as we await resurrection in humbleness.

 

[Full O Beans]

No one says you have to receive ashes so don't bother turning this into an argument thread. No one wants to hear it.

The Lenten season is a perfect time to reflect on our sinfulness and humble ourselves in repentance as we await resurrection in humbleness.

Hopefully every day is one of reflection just like that.

 

[Lamb]

Genesis 3:19 "By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.”

 

[Mojo]

My current church isn't close to my home so I did not attend Ash Wednesday but I used to at my previous church.

Did you go receive ashes yesterday? I know a lot of people don't understand what it means.

Yes. This is technically my first time observing Lent from A-Z, went to the early 7:30AM Mass and received ashes; it was a very compelling moment. I had to leave early though (right as they started the Liturgy of the Eucharist) because my dad wasn't feeling well, so that was a bit of a bummer.

I'm glad to be reminded of my mortality, that I can work on being more grateful for Christ's sacrifice and God's mercy.

 

[Lamb]

I love Advent because it leads us up to the suspense of the birth of the Savior. I love Lent because it leads up to the cross and resurrection for our salvation.

 

[Josiah]

I think the negative "reaction" often is....


1. "It seems kinda CATHOLIC - thus, it's pagan, bad, wrong." We get this reaction to LOTS of things! See http://www.christianityhaven.com/showthread.php?1523-Anti-Catholicism-Anti-Protestantism


2. "There MIGHT just be some pagan practice that once existed that is sorta, kinda, in a way LIKE this!! So this practice is satanic, evil, wrong and to be condemned." We get this at Christmas and Easter especially as some note that the word "Christmas" and "Easter" aren't found in the Bible and thus are satanic, and how it's wrong to celebrate births, how Christmas trees are pagan, how having fires in the fireplace is a pagan practice, that giving gifts is a pagan practice, etc., etc. It's a silly argument since these SAME PEOPLE do all kinds of things (including posting on the internet) that are pagan in origin and not found in the Bible. And silly because who cares is something "kinda, sorta similar" is found outside Christianity, who cares, why does THAT make it wrong? Much less make it satanic?



Lenten blessings to all....


- Josiah



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[psalms 91]

Not really I like it and the church I get the ashes is Methodist

 

[Lamb]

Bumping my thread up since today is Ash Wednesday. The Lenten season has begun.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Bumping my thread up since today is Ash Wednesday. The Lenten season has begun.

Yes, now I am even more vegetarian and abstemious than before.

I suspect I ought to add a smirk to this post.

:smirk:

It is serious but not entirely correct. On Sundays and usually Mondays I have quite a nice meal.

 

[Tigger]

My mom and sister who've fairly regularly been attending Sunday service with us expressed a desire to attend tonight. That's a pleasant surprise

 

[Cassia]

I understand the concept of humility in ashes as the beginning of a dedicated time given to the Lord that leads up to the birth of the church at Pentecost. I posted yesterday in another thread of the wave offering and this time corresponds to that. What's significant about the wave offering is that it's the announcement of God in ritual form of the savior to come.The fact of it is that there is no reconciliation until the substance has substantiated the shadow.

Leviticus 23:10-11 Note that the first day of the week plus the count of seven weeks brings the day to pentecost __ the birth of the church. Christ is our firstfruit, we are to be the wave offering.

Fasting in the new testament and the old is acceptable when it's the heart that is being purified before God "now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found "

 

[Tigger]

As a congregation our pastor challenged us to stop any gossiping for lent tonight. My wife and I discussed it on the way home from church and have agreed to the challenge :nono:

 

[MoreCoffee]

As a congregation our pastor challenged us to stop any gossiping for lent tonight. My wife and I discussed it on the way home from church and have agreed to the challenge :nono:

I remember a film about a religious sister and the new parish priest in which the religious sister suspect the new priest of sexual molestation. She had no hard evidence but there were circumstances that appeared to her to be confirming proofs. Eventually she made an accusation. The new priest preached a sermon about sin and repentance and chose as his example gossip. He likened it to climbing to the roof of a building with a feather pillow, cutting it open, shaking it out, watching the breeze spread the feathers and then realising that it was all wrong. He asked how will you pick up all those feathers? His valid point is that gossip cannot be undone. If it damages a person's reputation it cannot be undone.

The ashes are - I think - intended to be a reminder of the old testament practise of repenting in sackcloth and ashes. Lent is a season of repentance in preparation for the resurrection of the Lord. He died for the sins of his people. Those sins are what made the crucifixion necessary. It is right to repent of them.