By Carl Keith Greene / Staff Writer
Rob Shrader suggested to his flock on Ash Wednesday night that they approach Lent in a different kind of way.
He told the congregation at London’s First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that perhaps instead of giving up some sort of food or activity they should give themselves just a bit of quiet time.
Maybe only ten minutes a day when the exterior things of life can be turned off. It’s a time to be totally alone with themselves and eventually feel the presence of God, he said.
Certainly, he added, at the beginning it will be difficult, but as the daily quiet times develop a new presence will be in their lives.
His sermon came in a quiet, softly lit evening service that led to the imposing of ashes upon those there.
Ash Wednesday is known to have been observed by the church as early as the 8th Century.
Prior to that it, was known as Clean Monday, the first day of Lent.
It was moved to Wednesday when the liturgical year was modified to exactly 40 days (Sundays excepted) to reflect the 40 days that Jesus fasted in the wilderness.
Lent had been named as a time for fasting for Christians in the time leading up to Easter and the celebration of the resurrection.
Into modern times Ash Wednesday was mostly a Catholic Church activity to remind parishioners to be repentant of their sins and prepare for the liturgies as Lent ends leading to Easter.
Of late Protestant churches have taken up the liturgy.
Protestant ministers have adopted the traditions of creating ashes by burning palm fronds that were passed out the previous Palm Sunday, adding a bit of water or oil and making a mark that looks like a cross on the forehead of their parishioners.
When the ashes are placed on the forehead the minister may say, “Remember, you are dust and to dust you will return,” or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”
The ashes are intended to have a dual purpose. They remind of morality and humanity as the Lenten fast begins. And they are a biblical symbol of repentance, sorrow and humility.
Different churches have different traditions regarding the ashes once imposed. In some churches the worshippers leave the mark on their forehead and carry the cross into the world.
In other churches the liturgy ends with the ashes being washed off as a sign that the people have been cleansed of their sins.
The ashes are symbolic that death comes to everyone, the wearers should be sad for their sins and should change themselves for the better and that God made the first human beings by breathing life into dust.
