During the Ash Wednesday service, the priest anoints the forehead of each participant with ash, saying “remember that you are dust - and to dust you shall return”. This is a reminder of the humility involved in acknowledging that this earthly existence is time-limited - and the need to do all we can to live a life of generosity and love while we have the chance. Lent is traditionally a penitential time - looking inwards at how our life is going. We are encouraged into feeling ‘sorrow for our past sins’ - but in a way that opens our eyes to the need for repentance - a word that literally means turning. It’s about taking time to reflect, take stock and decide about which direction to take from here. Repentance is not about beating yourself up; it’s about healthy self-examination, positivity in committing yourself to the things that really matter in life: being bearers of the things of Christ in a harsh world. That being the case, and seeing that this Ash Wednesday we cannot gather together as we normally do, you might like to do the following: · Spend some time reflecting on where you are in life. This is not an exercise in ‘Am I being good enough?’ but in the light of Easter’s message of ‘love leading the way to life’, in which direction do you want your life to head now? · With a finger, make the sign of the cross on your forehead - no physical ash is needed · Bring to mind the words that the priest, if present, would use: “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return”. Let the words remind you of your mortality and the things beyond this life; let them encourage you to focus on your life’s future course: your remaining time on this planet, following The Way of Christ.
The Archbishops have written: First, let’s be calm. By only buying what we need and not hoarding, or by reaching out to our neighbours as we did during the first lockdown, we can be stronger together in ways that are impossible if we go it alone. When things go wrong - as they always will with such complex challenges - let us look for good and right ways forward together.Secondly, let’s be courageous. There are many reasons to be fearful at the moment, but the story of Christ calming the waves calls us to give our fears to Jesus and have faith in Him. The British willingness just to get on with things is one of our very best characteristics – let us not be paralysed by fear. We will all need each other's courage in the months to come.Thirdly, let’s be compassionate. So many of us are holding so much pain - our own and the pain of those we love. We will need to be gentle, kind and patient with each other. In the first wave we showed we are a nation of compassion and kindness. Let’s dig deep and keep that love for our neighbours strong in this second time of struggle. Read more here: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches/call-prayer-nation
