For you are dust and to dust you shall return.

Yesterday was a disappointing day for me. Ironically, we got some real and very pretty snow (which I had been hoping for), but it curtailed our plans to attend our church's Ash Wednesday service (and the weather front gave me a HORRIBLE migraine). Much like in Boston, we have been attending an Anglican Church here in Durham (for anyone interested, it's affiliated with the Anglican Church of North America, should you perhaps know nothing about Anglicanism and want to do some research) and will potentially end up calling it home. This means that we follow the church calendar, including the observation of Lent. 

I did not grow up in a liturgical tradition, so the past four years at Anglican/Anglican-esque churches have been a learning curve for me (and I, by no means, believe that worshiping in the liturgical tradition is infinitely superior to the way I grew up; it is simply a different way). I have come to really appreciate the observance of the different seasons in the life of the church. For my personality, it has been really neat to experience the seasons of anticipation leading up to both Christmas and Easter, reminding me to fully appreciate and celebrate those most important of events.

For years, I knew that Lent was a period of time during which some Christians abstain from various foods or activities. I didn't fully understand the purpose of Lent until four years ago, when I participated to the fullest extent for the first time. I think, in many ways, I kind of thought of abstaining during Lent as an opportunity for participants to give up bad habits (probably because I knew people who would give up fattening foods). That's not exactly how Lent should work. The entire season is a period of time for us to be reminded of our sinfulness, our need of a savior. A period of grieving our sinfulness and remembering our need to repent. A giving up of something significant in our daily lives as an obvious reminder to return our hearts to our Savior. My heart desperately needs this each year, as I regularly find myself looking at the gospel as such an ordinary, everyday thing...rather than the miracle that it is. So, being a member of churches that observe Lent together has been revolutionary for me. I have learned that Lent isn't just a time of personal abstinence; it is a time for the people of God to join together in repentance.

There really is nothing like experiencing that intentionality and mindfulness together.

Ash Wednesday has become unbelievably significant to me over the past few years. I don't know how many of y'all have ever attended an Ash Wednesday service, but, odd and uncomfortable as it may seem, I recommend it, if you are considering participating in the season of Lent. The gravity of the truths spoken and prayed there, the solemnity of the imposition of ashes (that's Fancy for "they put ashes on your forehead"), and the awareness of the Body of Christ entering into something so significant together prepares the heart so well for such a weighty season.

The services involve times of prayerful repentance, scripture, collective prayers acknowledging our sin. The pastor invites participants forward to receive ashes (in the shape of a cross) on their foreheads, as he reminds us that we "are dust and to dust we shall return." How sobering is that reminder from Genesis? What a significant practice this has become to me as I prepare my heart for Easter.

During Lent, believers abstain from food or activities for six days a week but break the fast on Sundays. Sundays are not for fasting, as they are a reminder of the celebration that is coming. However, liturgical services do abstain from saying "Allelueia" during Lent. That is reserved for Easter, and let me tell you: it is so exciting to shout it out come Easter! Anglican churches hold an Easter Vigil the Saturday night before Easter Sunday, which is an incredible build up through scripture, song, and prayer to the point of the resurrection, when the congregation shouts "Allelueia!" for the first time in 47 days. There's no way for Easter to sneak up on you with a build-up like that!

The women at shereadstruth.com have put together a daily Lenten study that is so good. If you are interested in following along with some Lenten readings, I recommend it! Go back and read the first couple, too. Our church in Boston also has a downloadable version of their Lenten devotional here. It's a great taste of what observing Lent together looks like.

So although I missed the service that starts the season, I'm looking forward to observing it as best I can. I hope that the anticipation of Easter is as hope-filled and exciting for you, as well.