With a sigh and a muffled sob, I set down my ashes: this fragile life, this frail ego, these vain illusions of all that I might do…might have…might be. With a sigh and twinge of regret, I set down my ashes: dreams I have chased, wounds I have clung to, fears that have crowded out… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: Happy (Ash) Valentine’s (Wednes)Day
Hallmark may not be taking advantage of this unique opportunity, but I thought somebody should create a few cards to mark the confluence of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. Sending all my love and penitent thoughts to you lovely clergywomen on this day of hearts and ashes. If you’ve ever struggled with the logistics of… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Cut Off
I’ve been thinking recently about the ways in which I find myself feeling cut off and cut into pieces: within myself, within my faith, within my relationships. For me, that sense of isolation is a particular result of my own life experiences, but to a certain degree, the struggle with feeling disconnected is universal to… Read More
Ash Wednesday: Lectionaries
With all your heart, cries God through the prophet Joel. With a clean heart, prays the psalmist. With a heart set on heaven, teaches Jesus. (And for those preachers whose hearts are set on using the Narrative Lectionary texts for Ash Wednesday, check out this reflection on Psalm 23 and John 10:1-18.) Ash Wednesday’s Revised… Read More
Wednesday Festival: Ash Wednesday
“Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. Repent and believe the Gospel.” These words, or words like them, will be spoken in many places around the world as Ash Wednesday arrives in our respective time zones. Around the RevGals ring, we are writing about Lenten practices, about these words and our mortality,… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Dust and Temptation
A busy liturgical season is upon us with tomorrow’s arrival of Ash Wednesday. Your colleagues in RevGalBlogPals are walking with you, encouraging you, and sharing resources so that your Lenten journey is professionally supported and personally nourished. For today’s Lectionary Leanings on the Revised Common Lectionary, we dive into the fullness of this Lenten season with discussion of the… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: “Ash Disasters”
A week ago, many of us participated in a holy ritual–Ash Wednesday. “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Drawing the ash cross on another person is somber and sacred and poignant . . . and potentially a logistical nightmare. I did not grow up observing Ash Wednesday, and my first year… Read More
