Dear Caldwell,
Tomorrow is an important day – and we are having company to make it even more special.
Six years ago, it was Caldwell’s blessing to host the first Lenten Wednesday Worship Series, organized by the Elizabeth Communities of Faith. Now, the ECF and the neighborhood are coming back as we commemorate Ash Wednesday and begin our shared walk that leads us to Easter. (How appropriate – on the day we turn to journey toward the bright spring of Easter morning, the ground is frozen solid outside.)
When company is coming, people get busy. An amazing team of volunteers has been planning, cleaning and coordinating and, unless we lose power completely, we will be ready for worship and a meal tomorrow at noon. Kitty Bohr and Marilyn Rowland have prepared our hospitality, with lots of helpers, and Intern in Ministry Susan Pierson has done a great job as the overall project coordinator.
As a last step of preparation, we will burn last year’s Easter Palm fronds down to the ashes that will be “dispensed” tomorrow. This symbolizes that our lives are made up of both Easter moments, when we sing ‘alleluia’, as well as those moments when we recognize our mortality and sinfulness (and thus our lost-ness without God’s grace). There is a great summary of this tradition on the Presbyterian Outlook page, click here to read. Also, today’s Charlotte Observer had a nice story about Ash Wednesday and Lent, including a mention of the ECF series, read it here.
Caldwell leads tomorrow’s service, to be followed by the other six partners in the Elizabeth Communities of Faith. Each week is a chance to hear the proclamation and leadership of a different church across multiple denominational traditions. So I hope you will make this a weekly discipline throughout these 7 weeks. We will also be sharing prayers across our congregations and inviting all our members to take “7 for 7,” that is, to take 7 minutes each day to read the daily scripture readings through the Revised Common Lectionary, available here. I invite you to join in this daily spiritual discipline as a way of walking with all of the members of the Elizabeth Communities of Faith.
As you’ve probably guessed, Yoga and Theology on Tap are cancelled tonight.
Be safe out there … and see you soon.
I am yours
In Christ,
John