Becca was six and Renee was three Our living room had been rearranged and now included the child sized chairs from the small table in their room. There was an aisle. Becca stood at one end of the room and Renee was walking through the chairs, dabbing her eyes.
"What are you doing?" this busy mother of a newborn asked.
"We are playing church and this is the invitation", said Becca who was apparently playing the role of the minister as a repentant Renee made her way to the altar.
More than 38 years later, I found myself listening as music from the piano filled the atrium at Brookdale Mandarin on Ash Wednesday. So were many of the residents - especially one African American woman who sat waiting to see the nurse. Not only was she humming along - she was harmonizing.
"I Surrender All". I well remember that song often used at an an invitation hymn at the close of a service.
I uttered a few words: "Hard to do sometime isn't it?" And with tears in her eyes - she simply smiled! For me, this was a great beginning to Lent...
"What are you doing?" this busy mother of a newborn asked.
"We are playing church and this is the invitation", said Becca who was apparently playing the role of the minister as a repentant Renee made her way to the altar.
More than 38 years later, I found myself listening as music from the piano filled the atrium at Brookdale Mandarin on Ash Wednesday. So were many of the residents - especially one African American woman who sat waiting to see the nurse. Not only was she humming along - she was harmonizing.
"I Surrender All". I well remember that song often used at an an invitation hymn at the close of a service.
I uttered a few words: "Hard to do sometime isn't it?" And with tears in her eyes - she simply smiled! For me, this was a great beginning to Lent...
Lent is fairly new observance for me. Since I did not grow up in a liturgical church I have known only that Lent is the time you give something up.
New is less than 20 years.
And yet in those 20 years I have come to appreciate Ash Wednesday and Lent. I understand that giving up something is a part - but also dedicating oneself to do something positive for others or yourself. You might give up Facebook, coffee or dessert OR you might serve at a soup kitchen, gather clothes for those who need them, write a love letter (or even one asking for forgiveness).
Over the next 40 days I am going to share some things I've learned to appreciate about this season beginning with this prayer which is a part of the Ash Wednesday liturgy:
New is less than 20 years.
And yet in those 20 years I have come to appreciate Ash Wednesday and Lent. I understand that giving up something is a part - but also dedicating oneself to do something positive for others or yourself. You might give up Facebook, coffee or dessert OR you might serve at a soup kitchen, gather clothes for those who need them, write a love letter (or even one asking for forgiveness).
Over the next 40 days I am going to share some things I've learned to appreciate about this season beginning with this prayer which is a part of the Ash Wednesday liturgy:
The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a
season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.
No invitation hymn necessary.
No invitation hymn necessary.
.
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