Ash Wednesday: Major Fast Day

Today is a major fast day in the life of the Church. We are to mark this day, the beginning of Lent, with great sacrifice that we might remember the even greater sacrifice our Lord Jesus Christ gave so that we might not die, but live forever. So at least for today, do much less that makes you happy, and abstain from selfish ways today, in order to remind you of Chirst!

Yesterday many recalled the joy of life by indulging in various ways, some with "Mardi Gras" others with heavy pancakes and rich syrup, the reason being is that today we end the indulgence and join together as a community of faith by walking the path of Christ, by confession sin, alms giving (giving to the poor and needy without question) and by fasting, all in order to remind us of our role in the Cross of Christ and to take on a greater awareness of our Lord as he bids us come to be sanctified; therefore PRAY MORE. So.......

1) Eat less food this day, and in your hunger remember your spiritual hunger and feed that!

2) Give to someone in need and do not question, give fast so that you do not know what you are doing. And never regret a gift given.

3) Confess the things you have done against God and neighbor and the things you have not done and that you should have done. Pray and ask God for guidance and for gosh sakes listen and look for God's response... he will answer you clearly, just expect an answer.

4) Go to Church this very day and receive Communion, The Eucharist, and at a service receive the Ashes where you are to recall that "you are but dust and to dust you shall return". At the same time, recall that you shall be raised by Him who suffered on the Cross for your Redemption. And for that reason alone you are to do all the above with a cheerful heart!

Here is what our Lord said about giving up stuff, sacrificing and generally giving to God (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21: NRSV)

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ³ But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁵ “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

¹⁶ “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Bulletin:

AshWednesday.pdf