Religion & Spirituality
Wednesday Lenten Sermon Series - An Altar in the World: Practice NOT Perfect Ash Wednesday may seem like an unusual ritual, but it is an important part of our Christian practice. In a culture that calls us to perfection, Ash Wednesday speaks the truth of our need of grace. In a culture that markets a false immortality, Ash Wednesday speaks the truth of our dying… and our rising … through Christ. We need the practice of Ash Wednesday not because we can ever perfect it, but because we are ever in need of a reminder of God’s promises. God promises grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace, love - in short, God promises life. And God’s promise outlasts our bodies, all our efforts at self-improvement, and even time itself. God’s promise is this: at the other end of this ashy cross is an empty cross.