Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, and Lent is an invitation to deep inner work, to self-examination. In doing that work we will find thoughts and deeds which we regret, and habits and attitudes which need changing. That changing is called repentance. Repentance is not about feeling bad or wallowing in our past sins, mistakes, and errors. ‘To repent is to come to your senses. It is not so much something you do as something that happens. True repentance spends less time looking at the past and saying ‘I’m sorry,’ than to look at the future and saying ‘Wow!’ We can look to the future and say ‘Wow!’ because we trust in the power of God’s grace and love to change us, and to help us change.”
Tomorrow morning (rain or shine) from 7-9am Keith Calara and I will offer ashes next to Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co. We hope you’ll walk or drive by (we’ll come to your car) to receive ashes and a blessing for the brevity and sacredness of life. Ashes will also be offered at 12pm at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (Keith is preaching then), and again at St. Mary’s at 6pm, for Taizé music and candlelight worship.
I invite you in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent, and to heed the soul’s holy longing.
In faith, Marylee
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”