Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday Reflection – March 5, 2025

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How To Guide to Faithful Living

Matthew 6  When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.

2 When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the synagogues and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

3 When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. 4 Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret and will reward you.

5  When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

6 When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private and will reward you.

16 When you go without eating, don’t try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 17  Instead, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then others won’t know you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.

19  Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. 20  Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

Lent 2025

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I don’t know about you, but this year Lent came upon me before I was ready. The events of the world, and the political and social action in Canada, have been my focus of late. We are in a very different place as we approach this Lent than we have been in years past, and our Lenten study this year will reflect that.

How to Lent for Teens and How to Lent with Kids are now up on the website. These are journeys that can be shared by all ages, not just those who fall into the age categories of Teens or Kids.

On Ash Wednesday, March 5th, I will be posting an Ash Wednesday reflection.

The following five weeks beginning Wednesday, March 12th, will include a Lenten Study on how to be inspired by scripture as we deal with a new social order and face some of the fears that have arisen along with the rise in fascist governments. We will be turning to the shorter prophetic books along with other Biblical reflections and Jesus teachings on how to resist and challenge authority, how to be brave when we are full of fear, and how to stand on our principles in a world that seem to be sacrificing people to the highest bidder while forcing others into abject poverty, all so a small group of people can indulge their greed.

For Holy Week we will be walking through Jerusalem with Jesus and his followers, this year inspired by insights from John Legend’s version of Jesus Christ Superstar, which can be purchased on YouTube (I don’t get any financial benefit from that recommendation). Watching it recently, the staging helped me look at the story in a new light.

Our podcast The Preacher & The Pagan will return during Lent with a new tone and focus, influenced by the changing world around us. Rather than just looking at history and contemporary discussions, we will be discussing the Christian and Pagan traditions of social and political action and what we can learn from our past that will help us stand strong in our present, and hopefully change our future.

I welcome you to this season of reflection.

Ash Wednesday Reflection – February 14, 2024

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Pillars of Lent

Matthew 6  When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.

2 When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the synagogues and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

3 When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. 4 Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret and will reward you.

5  When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

6 When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private and will reward you.

16 When you go without eating, don’t try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 17  Instead, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then others won’t know you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.

19  Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. 20  Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

Ash Wednesday Reflection – February 22, 2023

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Pillars of Lent

Matthew 6  When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.

2 When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the synagogues and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

3 When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. 4 Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret and will reward you.

5  When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

6 When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private and will reward you.

16 When you go without eating, don’t try to look gloomy as those show-offs do when they go without eating. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 17  Instead, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then others won’t know you are going without eating. But your Father sees what is done in private, and he will reward you.

19  Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. 20  Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. 21 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

Performed by Margaret Whisselle