March 1, 2022
Dear friends,
Why is it Ash Wednesday? Ashes were a sign of mourning among the people of Israel. They went along with torn clothes and sackcloth – rough garments that were to reflect the humility of the heart. “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” That return to dust in death is our cause for mourning because it is our fault, our own most grievous fault. In sin we have spoiled the beauty of God’s creation and soiled our own hearts so that we could never draw near to God in his goodness. That is cause for great mourning.
The church is not a funeral parlor, where everything is done to soften reality, to apply makeup and nice dress to death, where only fond memories are permitted. We wear ashes on our foreheads in church to be reminded of the curse of sin, so that we who are living may learn to number our days.
But the church is also not a funeral parlor because we wear ashes in hope. Death is unmasked in church so that Christ, the conqueror of death may have his way with us, so that he may draw our hearts to him, so that from our depths of woe, we can see and hold fast to his abundant mercy, his promises of life and salvation.
We wear ashes on our foreheads because it is not the well who need a physician, but the sick. It is not the righteous who need a savior, but the unrighteous. It is not the living who need resurrection, but the dead. We wear ashes on our foreheads so that we may not forget who we are: the sick, the unrighteous, the dead, and most of all, the beloved of God. You are dust and to dust you shall return, but even more, you are Christ’s, and not even death can snatch you out of his hand.
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Ash Wednesday – Wednesday, March 2 @ 7pm
Family Night – Wednesday, March 9 @ 5:30pm
Elders and Council – Thursday, March 10 @ 6 & 7pm
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesday, March 17 @ 8pm