From the Chaplains

From the Chaplains

This week I want to invite you to come along to Pymble’s Ash Wednesday service.

All members of the Pymble family, including students, staff and parents are welcome.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent – the time that Christians prepare for Easter. Lent lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays and ends on Easter Saturday, which this year falls on Saturday 19th April. During these 40 days, Christians commit to being more intentional about their faith.

During our time together we will pray, hear from the scriptures, spend some time in silence and be marked, either on the hand or forehead, with ashes.

Why ashes you may ask?

Ashes are an ancient symbol associated with repentance or ‘re-turning’ to God. We believe that this physical act of placing the very dust of the earth on ourselves helps us open ourselves us to God. The ashes speak into the cycle of life. They are physical proof, if you like, that everything ,including ourselves, grows from dust and eventually returns to dust and begin again.

When we take on the ashes we are symbolically beginning again in our relationship with God. We are letting go of the things that distract us from God’s presence, and committing to giving more space to acknowledging where God is in our lives. We believe that this physical act of placing the dust of the earth on ourselves helps us open ourselves up anew to God’s presence in our lives. This openness precludes the intentionality that we commit to during lent that I mentioned before.

How we are intentional about faith during Lent is up to us.

For some of us this may mean giving something up. The hope is that each time we would normally do the thing that we have given up and don’t we are drawn into God’s presence by the space that is left from the not doing.

For others this may mean taking something up. Doing something we don’t normally do. Perhaps making time for prayer each day. Perhaps taking time each day to name and record the love we have seen each day. Perhaps taking up a service initiative. If you want suggestions for what to do during Lent, please have a look at the suggestions given by Uniting World.

Unitng World are challenging each of us to ‘Stand with people fighting on the frontlines of climate change’ by participating in ‘40 days of faith-filled action for God’s creation’. The campaign recognises that the only way to tackle poverty, inequality, injustice and Climate Change is by doing it together. Each one of us has a part to play. This could include

However ever you step along your Lenten journey, my prayer is that your act of devotion fills your cup and returns you to God.

We look forward to seeing you on Ash Wednesday at 7.30am, Wednesday 5 March in the War Memorial Chapel.

Reverend Danielle Hemsworth-Smith

College Chaplain