Seeking Authentic Voice

"... Yet even now, says the   Lord , return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing." (Joel 2:12-13) On Ash Wednesday I offered four  services. One was with four year olds from our preschool, kids who are not necessarily Christian or even religious. I aim to teach them a little bit about Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. I begin by reading Judith Viorst's book, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." I get the kids to repeat the refrain with me every time it shows up in the story. Then we talk about days when every thing goes wrong and we feel bad, those days when we have to say "sorry" to someone or when we need someone to say "sorry" to us. I talked about how the ashes remind Christians of the importance of saying "I'm sorry" and trying to treat others kindly. I then invite the kids to touch the rough ashes which are th...

Ash Wednesday: Know What - Know What we often take for granted Our Lenten commitment to “know chocolate” challenges us to recognize that we often take life’s best gifts for granted—whether it is chocolate or God’s loving presence. Ash Wednesday: Know What Chocolate candy wrappers from chocolate products Do you recognize any of these wrappers? [Hold up empty chocolate wrappers.] Too bad these are empty! Is one of these a favorite of yours? Have you ever heard anyone say that he or she plans to give up something for Lent? Maybe something like chocolate?   Since today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the forty-day season called Lent, you just might hear people say that there will be NO chocolate until Easter arrives. Giving up something we find tempting—especially chocolate—serves as a tool to help focus our minds and hearts during the season of Lent. Every time we think about and want whatever it is we have given up we are reminded that it’s Lent. In order to manag...