dual personalities

Methodist pastors in flyover country (What are they wearing?)

Ash & Dash is for those “on the go” Christians who just don’t have time to slow down and attend a traditional Ash Wednesday service.  “All are welcome, period.” Pastors will be on hand, we are informed, from 7-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and 4-6 p.m. for drive-thru “ashing”. In addition, the pastors will also offer prayer.

Sounds like a cute sound bite for the 5 o’clock news. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon–even the Presbyterians, who I never thought were big on Lent and the liturgical calendar in general. But, hey, this sounds so fun, right?

Personally, I think if you are too busy to go to an actual service, you need to check your heart. I am, indeed, too busy and I know it. I have a job (not just a “to-do” list) and I have a full line-up today. There will be no ducking out in the middle of the day to go to church. Yes, there is a 7:00 pm service, but I won’t be going. I’ll read the service in the BCP at home and I am fine with that.

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer.

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

So slow down already.

To those who plan to observe Lent, I wish you well and trust you’ll benefit from a time you’ve chosen to make special between you and the Lord. To those who plan not to observe Lent, I wish you well also and trust you’ll benefit equally from the so-ordinary, so-wonderful means of grace that are available to all of us all the time. (Tim Challies)

But don’t just dash by for a drive-by ashing. Have you no shame?