ash wednesday service at drew.

twe had an awesome ash wednesday service today at the drew chapel (very experimental space and emerging church). i suppose i could venture to say it was one of the most meaningful services i've been to. until last year, i never really understood the meaning of ash wednesday. however, today i really got a good sense of what it's about. the service started with the reading of isaiah 1:11-20. it wasn't a normal reading though. one person started and read a line and then others could add in as they wished. or, they could repeat phrases that they felt strongly about. it was really neat and moving hearing all of those things repeated that were meaningful. my favorite part:

"your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, i am weary of bearing them. when you stretch out your hands, i will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, i will not listen; your hands are full of blood. wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow" isaiah 1:14-20

then, after that really neat reading. the seminary choir sang the mark miller piece, "ready for a change":

"take this broken sprit, create in me a clean heart, heal this wounded healer and point me to the good road. lord, i'm ready for a change, only you can make me change, lord i'm ready for a change...wipe away these tears, lord and end my night of weeping, wash away the old ways, replace my pain with your joy! lord, i'm ready for a change, only you can make me change, lord i'm ready for a change. Give my life a new start and plant in me a seed that grows and blossoms into the fruit of blessing."

then? this was the coolest part. they had three prayer stations set up:

1. water: a reminder of our initiation into a lifetime of discipleship in Christ.

2. clay: a reminder that we are always being molded and re-molded in the image of God.

3. oil: a reminder that we are anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring the good news of justice and compassion that ushers in the holy reign of the holy one.

and they had a giant labyrinth set up, encouraging us to remember who and whose you are, reclaim yourself as a child of God, and give to God all that keeps you from loving yourself, loving God, and loving your neighbor. of course, was the imposition of ashes on our forehead. they mixed them with yummy smelling oil (i think lavender).

anyway. very meaningful. i'll reflect more about my lenten practices later on, after class :)

hope you have a blessed ash wednesday, and remember that you are the beloved!

peace.