(Based on a Sermon Preached at Christ Episcopal Church, Albertville, Alabama, Ash Wednesday, 20220)
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 wretchedness, 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 (Book of Common Prayer)
A Message from Bishop Curry: Statement on Ukraine
“In view of the tragic and heartrending news from Ukraine following the Russian Federation’s invasion of that country, we are one with our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world, and with all those seeking God’s will, in praying for a rapid cessation to these hostilities and an end to the devastating loss of life and countless personal tragedies occurring since the invasion.
With this strongly in our minds and hearts, the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama will come together with the Catholic Diocese of Alabama and other religious leaders and communities on Ash Wednesday for a day of prayer. We also invite everyone across our Diocese to join us at an ecumenical prayer vigil for Ukraine to be held at Kelly Ingram Park at 4:30pm on Ash Wednesday. We join with all people of faith in praying for the restoration of peace, safety, and stability in Ukraine.
Eternal God, in whose perfect realm no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, and no strength known but the strength of love: so guide and inspire the work of those who seek your kingdom that all your people may find their security in that love which casts out fear and in the fellowship revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Savior. (Book of Common Prayer)
Sadly, the situation in the world today is not new. God’s people and the world have faced similar situations since human beings first inhabited the earth. In such times, people of faith have prayed similar prayers to the one shared with us by Bishop Curry. The following warning from God and prayer through the sixth century BC prophet, Joel, is one such example, and one which provides challenge and comfort to us as we pray for this Crisis in our world, and as we begin the season of Lent. Crises, prayer and lent, as well as lent, reflection and hope can never be separated from each other.
Joel 2:1-2,12-17: Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near--a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come.
Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy.
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep. Let them say, "Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, `Where is their God?'"
In Psalm 103 we find God’s promise to Ukraine, to the USA and to the world, now during our Lenten pilgrimage and for ever and ever, world without end, amen.
“The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness. He will not always accuse us, nor will he keep his anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our wickedness. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is his mercy great upon those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us. As a father cares for his children, so does the LORD care for those who fear him. For he himself knows whereof we are made…the merciful goodness of the Lord endures for ever on those who fear him, and his righteousness on children's children.
As
our senior warden, Brenda Mayhall, shared with me earlier today: “May our Ash
Wednesday be a time of reflection and promise.”
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