I am so encouraged and excited to celebrate new beginnings and happy endings this Sunday March 2nd. We welcome Juli to lead us forward. At the same time we thank Paul for his steadfast and wise guidance through our liminal period. We are grateful for all that we have been given.

We are not the same as we were at the start of this process. We have grown together in a way that we could not have imagined. We are ready to move forward, facing the challenges of a deficit budget and a part time incumbent. There is enthusiasm and ideas and a community of faith who are trying to make a difference. 

We are also entering Lent, a season of self reflection and learning. As always we are grateful for our lay leadership particularly Claire for spearheading the Lenten Study series. Ash Wednesday service with imposition of ashes will happen again this year (see details below). 

I look forward to celebrating with you this Sunday both during and after the service. Please bring mugs!

Ruth

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. Palms from the previous Palm Sunday are burned – ashes from these palms are distributed on Ash Wednesday as a sign of penitence. 

Ash Wednesday is a reminder of our mortality and an invitation to repentance. Ashes are used to mark us with the sign of the cross. “From dust we come and to dust we shall return”.