Ash Wednesday

Blow the trumpet in Zion,

Consecrate a fast,

Call a sacred assembly;

Gather the people,

Sanctify the congregation.…

Let the priests, who minister to the LORD,

Weep between the porch and the altar;

Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD,

And do not give Your heritage to reproach."

-Joel 2.15, 16a, 17

Tomorrow, February 6, 2008, is an important day in the life of the Church, and in your life. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, opens the time of fasting and penitential discipline. All communicants are urged to undertake a fast, abstaining from meat and alcohol, and eating no food in the hours before Divine Service at Immanuel on Wednesday evening (7:30 p.m.). Preceding this solemn service will be the imposition of ashes at the rear of the nave - please arrive a few minutes before the service if you wish to receive this ancient token of mourning and repentance. The day of fasting culminates with our Lord's holy Supper – the true Food which we are training ourselves to desire.

I recently posted an excerpt from St. John Chrysostom on what I found to be an excellent summary of the real purpose of fasting; you can view it by clicking here.

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Almighty and everlasting God, who hates nothing that You have made and who forgives the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of You, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.