Ashes to Ashes

“We commit this body to its resting place, ashes to ashes, dust to dust in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to life for all God’s people.”

At the time of a funeral, we reflect on our human weakness before God and our own eventual death. These historic well-known words have been spoken for centuries at Christian committals the world over. For many centuries, a part of the traditional liturgy for Ash Wednesday has been the Imposition of Ashes. In Biblical times ashes were a symbol of the sinful soul and of turning to God in repentance. Dust or ashes would be applied to the body as a sign of humility and repentance before God.

In a way Ash Wednesday is a rehearsal for the day of death. It is an opportunity in ceremony and in the Divine Service to face this inevitable reality. And yet God promises to forgive his people in Christ as they repent and confess their sin in faith! The very application upon us of the ashes in the form of a cross reminds us of this. For the message of the cross is the very power of God to save those called in and by his holy Name. The Lord's people in Christ will be raised to life on that new day!

Ash Wednesday begins the forty-day season of Lenten repentance. Ash Wednesday is February 18th this year. Once again this year we will offer both a 3pm and 7pm service for the imposition of ashes and the full Divine Service. During this Lenten season Confession and Absolution will be offered again. There are times when personal Confession to another can be comforting and necessary. Pastor is available anytime to meet for a time of Confession.

However, a time will be set aside for private Confession and Absolution in the church sanctuary on Saturdays, February 28th, and March 14th from 1-3pm.

In this season of Lenten repentance, we commit ourselves to the Lord of our lives even while preparing for death’s rest; - Ashes to ashes, dust to dust in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to life for all God’s people in Jesus Christ!

Pastor