Next week marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent, with 'Ash Wednesday'.

Lent offers us an invaluable opportunity to renew our love for one another. From this love flows our mission to be a sign of God’s presence in the world. Through us, people will come to recognise – not ‘perfection,’ but something very precious, something worth finding out about, perhaps worth giving our lives to. Let’s make the most of our journey through Lent 2020.

Reflection: The Australian Story

In the Australian bush, a fire is a sign of cleansing and new life. Many animals of the bush are harmed by fire. The trees have learnt to adapt to these changes and quickly regrow and thrive on the nutrients from the ashes. New seedlings grow in the bed of the ashes. Ashes are a symbol of a new beginning. The ashes placed on our foreheads today are a symbol of change and a new beginning. Just like the Australian bush the ashes are a sign of a new beginning and of renewed growth.

Prayer

Let us pray:

God of all our journeys, send the consuming fire of your love upon us as we travel these weeks of lent. Be with us as we grow closer to you during Lent. Through the ashes of Ash Wednesday, help us to grow to be better people who love you and care for each other. Help us to be ever ready to forgive and heal so that all may feel part of our community. We ask this through Jesus your Son.

Amen

As mentioned earlier, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. To mark this special time in the Church year, we will gather on Shrove Tuesday to burn palms which were blessed and used during Palm Sunday last year as we recalled Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The ashes that will be produced will be blessed with holy water on Ash Wednesday and they will be used to mark our foreheads with a sign of the cross. The 'Burning of the Palms Ceremony' will take place next Tuesday 25th Feb at 10:15 on our Primary Campus. 

This special cross is a reminder for us to follow Jesus during our Lenten season. For the next forty days until we come to the celebration of Easter, we pray that the light of Christ who has taught us how to pray, how to live simply and how to reach out to those who are in need will be with us during Lent.

Prayer

God our Father, you have called each one of us by name and have bought us together in your love. Be with us during this coming Lent and help us to walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

Anita Mason - Religious Education Coordinator