Ash Wednesday

Friends,

 Today we begin the season of Lent, a time of intentional reflection on who we are and whose we are in light of God’s claim on our lives in Christ Jesus. We do that by smudging ashes on our foreheads, ashes that often are the burned remains of last year’s Palm Sunday palm fronds. What we once a sign of our jubilation about Christ’s victory have now been reduced to signs of our own spiritual “burn out,” or at least the ever-present risk of our spiritual fatigue.

 I invite you to join your Caldwell family members and other members of the Elizabeth Communities of Faith at a noon Ash Wednesday service today at St. Martin’s Episcopal on 7th Street. This kicks off our Lenten series, which will focus on God’s justice. What better way to begin to equip ourselves to work for a more just world than to go to our God and admit our need for God to replenish our souls.

 Hope to see you there.

 John