Ash Wednesday

 Genesis 3.19

You are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. As the ash is placed on our foreheads in the shape of the cross, those words from Genesis are spoken: "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." It is a day to lament our disconnectedness from God. It begins a time where we consider those failures in our own lives which separate us from God. The sign of the cross reminds us that in Jesus, our failure is overcome by his resurrection. We can use Lent to meet with God and ask God to bridge the distance we put between him and us.

Lent Spiritual Prompt

As humans we all fail, in some way, every day. Ask yourself honestly where have you failed in your Christian faith? If you have no answer now, then roll this question over in your mind during the coming days of Lent and try to answer it before the end of Lent.

Prayer for Lent

During this Lent please God bring me closer to you.

Please God show me those failures in my life that separates me from you.

Please God show me how to bridge the distance between us.

May I be at peace this Lent

May I surrender what has been burdensome to you this Lent

May I repent and turn back to you.

On our inner journey through Lent we should recognise God in the ordinary, in the joy and sadness of life.

Our relationship is about knowing that God cannot be separated from whatever we experience.

Blessing

Lord, be a bright flame before us

Be a guiding star above us

Be a smooth path beneath us

Be a kindly shepherd behind us.