Embracing Exile

Wednesday | February 22 | 7PM

Ash Wednesday is a day when Christians around the world come together to prepare their hearts for the season of Lent. You are invited to join us in the evening for a special Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 PM. During this service we will worship together, hear a brief devotional, and practice the imposition of ashes. For those who are unfamiliar with Ash Wednesday and the “imposition of ashes” here are some helps:

Ash Wednesday is the Wednesday of the seventh week before Easter and the  rst day of Lent. The day is named for the practice of imposing ashes, a practice which many congregations have found to be a very meaningful part of the Ash Wednesday liturgy.

Using ashes as a sign of repentance is an ancient practice, often mentioned in the Bible (e.g., Jonah 3:5-9; Job 42:6; Jeremiah 6:26; Matthew 11:21). The early Christians adopted the use of ashes from Jewish practice as an external mark of penitence.

Ashes symbolize several aspects of our human existence:

— Ashes remind us of God’s condemnation of sin, as God said to Adam, “Dust you are and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).

— Ashes suggest cleansing and renewal. They were used anciently in the absence of soap. On Ash Wednesday ashes are a penitential substitute for water as a reminder of our baptism.

— Ashes remind us of the shortness of human life, for it is said as we are buried: “earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

— Ashes are a symbol of our need to repent, confess our sins, and return to God.

(adapted from www.elca.org)

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Historically during Lent, Christians have engaged in spiritual practices like prayer, fasting, confession/repentance, and almsgiving (giving money to the poor). During Lent, as a church, we are going to practice “almsgiving” together. In line with the “Embracing Exile” theme, we are going to give to the “Exiles” in our city through an organization called “Houston Welcomes Refugees.” .

Houston Refugees Website

This is how it works.

1. Find something that you spend money on throughout the week that you can “give up,” (think a temporary fast!).
2. Take that money and “give to” Houston Welcomes Refugees. You can do this every week in service. We will pass a basket (yes, an actual basket!) for this special offering. You can place your offering in the basket. Or you can give online and select the category “Alms During Lent ”

Click Here to Give

Please Note: This is designed to be an offering that is in addition to our weekly tithes/offerings. Talk about it with your kids, grandkids, small group, etc.