No matter how many times I say that Easter is really, really early this year, it doesn’t seem to sink in until people begin to notice that Ash Wednesday is the first week in February—next week!  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of our 40 day journey toward Easter. When I was working at the Meeting House in Alexandria, our pastor, Rev. Dr. Gary Charles, wrote this moving poem about Ash Wednesday.

The Sunday lectionary passages will skip over the teachings of Jesus—we’ll be back to those after Pentecost—to follow him from the temptation in the wilderness to the tomb of Lazarus in Bethany to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem that begins the tragedy of Holy Week. It’s a long, hard journey, filled with pain and disappointment. But unless we have walked through the 40 days of Lent, it’s hard to feel the amazement of the empty tomb on Easter morning. Come along with us as we walk through this season together.

I will be in Texas, welcoming our newest granddaughter into the world on Ash Wednesday this year. My good friend, the Rev. Dr. Mary Boyd Click, will be with you that night to pray with you and impose ashes on those who want to participate in the ancient ritual of the ashes. Worship will be at 7:00. (There will be childcare.)