In these days we need a reminder of hope as we rush from one place to the next. In Lent we journey both toward the cross and the empty tomb. As people “of the smudge” we are people who trust in the resurrection to new life it offers through faith in the risen Christ. And while the ashes remind us of our eventual death, the smudged cross reminds us death does not have the last word. We remember the promise we were given, “Child of God, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit, and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” In the waters of baptism we have been joined to both the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We pray along with the psalmist to “create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me”, and are reminded of God’s cleansing Spirit of renewal in our lives.įinally, because the smudged cross is made with ashes mixed with oil, we are reminded of the mark with oil placed on our brow at baptism. Lent is also a time of cleansing and renewal. They remind us we cannot escape death, no matter how hard we may try to keep it at arm’s length or deny its reality in our lives.Īshes remind us how at one time they were rubbed on one’s skin to eliminate hard to remove dirt. Like the words spoken at a funeral committal, ashes are a reminder of our mortality and finitude.

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These are the words spoken by the pastor as an ashen cross is smudged on one’s brow. This ancient ritual is filled with spiritual significance for Christians. Click on the SPECIAL SERVICE link from our website homepage. This evening service will also be available by livestream. On Feb 22 at 7:00PM The Lutheran Church of Our Savior will hold this worship service of confession, reflection, and the imposition of ashes to begin the Lenten journey toward Holy Week and Easter. Ash & Dash 7:00-8:30AM at Westmont PATCO StationĪsh Wednesday worship has long heralded the beginning of Lent.

Lutheran imposition of ashes