Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday signals the beginning of Lent. Today, like many churches around the world, we burned the palms from last year's Palm Sunday Service to use as the ashes for this service. We also spent a few meditative moments to write on a small piece of paper that were also burned with the palm leaves. You write what you're going to "give up" for Lent. This could be something you're really going to give up like red meat or chocolate, but it could also be something you take on, like exercise or reaching out to family members more often. It's traditionally solemn, but it doesn't have to be. I always feel happy during Lent. It could be just the weather turning and the onset of Spring, but it's also the renewing of life on a much deeper level. Morning has broken, like the first morning. Morning has broken, like the first morning Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird Praise for the singing, praise for the morning Praise for the springing fresh from the world Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven Like the first dewfall, on the first grass Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden Sprung in completeness where his feet pass Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning Born of the one light, eden saw play Praise with elation, praise every morning God's recreation of the new day (Read about Eleanor Farjeon)