Ash Wednesday & Lent
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season in the Church. Lent is a penitential time, where we engage in reflection and examination of our lives. We focus on the loving relationship between God and us, and how we reflect that same love in the world and with the people around us. During Lent, as a sign of commitment to the self- reflection and self-examination, some people abandon or stop something that gives temporary pleasure. This serves as a reminder to be thankful for the lasting joys that we receive as God’s beloved children and to share God’s desire that everyone experience the same in loving relationship with God.
When we were baptized, the pastor or priest anointed our foreheads, with water or oil, in the shape of a cross, and proclaimed the beginning of our forever relationship with God through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Yes, God never leaves us and is with us, loving and supporting us forever. In our daily life, we frequently forget about this loving relationship and think that we are alone when the challenges of life are weighing us down. Ash Wednesday gives us an opportunity to recall that baptismal promise and gives us the ability to see Christ’s cross on our forehead, because now it is traced with ashes. The ashes are symbolic of the biblical account from the Book of Genesis when God created humans from dust and the dust to which our human bodies will one day return. The ashen cross on our forehead indicates that God is with us from birth to death and from death to eternal life.
“Ashes on the Go” Safety Precautions
Time:
Ash Wednesday, February 17
Between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm
Location:
Grace Lutheran Church
304 Spruce Street
Oakville, ON L6J 2H1
Pastor Rick will be applying ashes in a safe and drive-through format in our parking lot. Just drive into our parking lot and remain in your vehicle; an attendant will guide you. Everyone in your vehicle must wear a face mask that covers the nose, mouth, and chin. Pastor Rick will also wear a face mask. Do not come if you are sick or have COVID-19 symptoms, have recently tested positive for or have had close contact with someone who as tested positive for COVID-19, or if you have travelled outside of Canada within 14 days.
When Pastor Rick approaches your vehicle, shift it to park, and open the window for each person. Then face the open window and use your hand to hold back any hair that hangs over your forehead. Pastor Rick will impose the ashes on each person’s forehead. Continue to wear face coverings until Pastor Rick has stepped away from your vehicle. After receipt of ashes, just drive away.
You can arrive at any time between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm. It will only take a couple of minutes to receive ashes. Once you return home, please join in prayer with our Bishop at 6:30 pm by clicking the following link to an online worship service.
Livestreamed Ash Wednesday Worship Service
Time:
Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021
6:30 pm
Location:
Eastern Synod’s Facebook Page
Please join Bishop Pryse and the Assistants to the Bishop for a livestreamed Ash Wednesday Worship Service. If you would like to print a copy of the worship service and sermon, it is available on the Eastern Synod’s Website.
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