Ash Wednesday

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Lent is the 40-day period plus six-Sundays leading up to Easter. This year I am looking forward to using two resources to be my guide through Lent. I will be praying with the church using a The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle (Eastertide: Prayers for Lent through Easter from the Divine Hours). This prayer book includes both Morning and Evening Offices. Many of the scripture readings and prayers are taken from the Book of Common Prayer, as well as other ancient prayer books and hymns. Here is one church’s web site that posts The Divine Hours offices throughout the day: www.annarborvineyard.org/tdh/tdh.cfm

I will also be journeying through Christine Sine’s 2009 Lenten Guide, A Journey Into Wholeness. Our community here in Buenos Aires plans to make space each week to observe the liturgies that Sine has written and shared in the Guide for each week of Lent. The GodSpace blog is a great place to visit if you are looking for other resources for Lent this year. GodSpace will also include a “syncroblog” which will link many Lent reflections and meditations from other blog writers. In addition GodSpace includes some meaningful liturgy videos for Lent. Check it out: www.godspace.wordpress.com

I will close with the prayer for Ash Wednesday from The Divine Hours (taken from the BCP)…

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wickedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.