The Wheatland Mission

Ash Wednesday...one week later

Below are the words used to introduce Lent on Ash Wednesday. Last Wednesday night we read this passage during our Lenten Prayer Gathering. It gives a brief idea of what Lent is really all about.

"Dear people of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sin, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and abosolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and aof the need which all Christians continually ahve to renew their repentance and faith."


Lent is a time of repentance and renewal. It is also a time for grief and sorrow. Let these weeks that lead us up to the observance of Christ's crucifixion and the celebration of his resurrection be a time of reflection on the state of your life with Christ. What hinders your following him? What sins are you entangled in? Which people in your life do you need to seek forgiveness from? Who do you need to forgive?

For the early Church Lent was an opportunity to prepare for baptism. They prepared themselves during this time for the celebration of baptism during Easter.

Think about your baptism. It is the great marking ritual that Christians are called to participate in. Does your baptism remind you that you belong to Christ? If you haven't been baptized, use this time to consider following Christ in this way. Let him lead you through the waters, which symbolize his death, into a new type of life with Him.

posted by The Wheatland Mission @ 8:10 PM