Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.

Matthew 4:1-2 (NRSV)

This Wednesday we begin our Lenten journey again as we celebrate Ash Wednesday.

Why are we doing this? Ash Wednesday signifies the beginning of our time of reflection and repentance. We do this because we remember Jesus going into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days and forty nights. 

Our Ash Wednesday service will be in the Pilgrim Church Sanctuary at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 14th. Come for reflection, testimony and (if you choose) the imposition of ashes.

Ash Wednesday is the best way to begin your Lenten observances.

In the ancient churches, this would have been a time of fasting and instruction for new members. At the end of their instruction, they would join the congregations on Easter Sunday. 

Many people abstain from something (or try a new spiritual practice) to remind themselves that they are in a time of special observance. Most major faiths follow this model. Modern Christians seem the least likely to observe fasting and prayer as spiritual practices. Consider this post an invitation to choose how you will mark this special time, from now until Easter on March 31st. 

Choose Your Own Adventure…

Will you give up eating meat? Could you adopt a prayer practice? Will you join the Considering Forgiveness Workshop?

What do you mean, “what workshop?”

Considering Forgiveness is a five-week workshop led by Catherine Weber and Reverend Charley Eastman. Charley is the minister at Pilgrim Church in Southborough. Catherine is a  Southborough artist and a three-time Moth Storyslam Winner. Together they will lead a workshop utilizing Desmond Tutu’s The Book of Forgiving. You may join them Wednesdays at 7:30 on February 21 & 28, and March 6, 13, 20 & 27 in the Parlor at Pilgrim Church!

To join the Workshop, sign up here! You’ll get the most out of it if you can attend all the sessions.