Ash Wednesday
Yes, I do know what day it is today... Tuesday, March 11th. It is not Ash Wednesday. But I still want to talk about Ash Wednesday. In fact, I may focus all my blogs over this year's Lenten season on the liturgy of the Ash Wednesday service from the Book of Alternative Services (the BAS online can be found here). Why? Just because I love it. Why do I love it? Well, maybe I'll get to the bottom of that as I meditate on the prayers and passages of this service.
So, let's start at the beginning (page 281).
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
"Almighty and everlasting God,
you despise nothing you have made
and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our brokenness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever."
Two things really stand out to me from this prayer:
1) "You despise nothing you have made". As we approach God, particularly with the keen awareness of our sin that Lent brings, it is so comforting and reassuring to know that God does not despise us. It is not that He is looking down at us with scorn and contempt. Yes, our sins need to be dealt with, but God has made a way for that as we see in the rest of the prayer.
2) Not only does God grant us "perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord," He also gives us the new and contrite hearts that we need in order to be "worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our brokenness". This encourages me because I doubt my own ability to be contrite or "worthily lament" my sin. Knowing that I can ask God to give me the right kind of heart means all I have to do is ask Him for it and then walk by faith. For me, the practical demonstration of walking by faith is to continue on in the liturgy believing that God is going to answer these prayers.
I look forward to continuing to reflect on this service throughout Lent. No promises that it will be regular though.
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
So, let's start at the beginning (page 281).
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
"Almighty and everlasting God,
you despise nothing you have made
and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our brokenness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever."
Two things really stand out to me from this prayer:
1) "You despise nothing you have made". As we approach God, particularly with the keen awareness of our sin that Lent brings, it is so comforting and reassuring to know that God does not despise us. It is not that He is looking down at us with scorn and contempt. Yes, our sins need to be dealt with, but God has made a way for that as we see in the rest of the prayer.
2) Not only does God grant us "perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord," He also gives us the new and contrite hearts that we need in order to be "worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our brokenness". This encourages me because I doubt my own ability to be contrite or "worthily lament" my sin. Knowing that I can ask God to give me the right kind of heart means all I have to do is ask Him for it and then walk by faith. For me, the practical demonstration of walking by faith is to continue on in the liturgy believing that God is going to answer these prayers.
I look forward to continuing to reflect on this service throughout Lent. No promises that it will be regular though.
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
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