So, there are lots of tough, hard things in my work this week. But I stepped aside today anyway and went to the lunch Ash Wednesday service at St. Monica's. It is just the liturgy of the word and ashes. I've gone every year since we moved to OK. It is the only mass I go to at St. Monica's as usually we go to St. John's, but this time it works best. Oddly, I've never taken my kids as they are always at childcare.
I'm not sure why, but I find the words and ceremony of this remembrance touching. I cried last year mourning my father. This year, I found hope in the ideas of renewal and rebirth. In the idea that we get to try again and that there is more to come. I know most of you aren't Catholic so you've likely not heard the lyrics below, so I wanted to share them. We sing it really only this once a year, usually, but somehow the entire thing, every verse is ingrained indelibly in my memory. I never read the words from a hymnal and hardly anyone else does either. Last year, weirdly, we didn't sing it at all, and I was so glad to welcome it again this year. Best wishes for a season of renewal, gifts, and wider vision:
An offering to You.
I'm not sure why, but I find the words and ceremony of this remembrance touching. I cried last year mourning my father. This year, I found hope in the ideas of renewal and rebirth. In the idea that we get to try again and that there is more to come. I know most of you aren't Catholic so you've likely not heard the lyrics below, so I wanted to share them. We sing it really only this once a year, usually, but somehow the entire thing, every verse is ingrained indelibly in my memory. I never read the words from a hymnal and hardly anyone else does either. Last year, weirdly, we didn't sing it at all, and I was so glad to welcome it again this year. Best wishes for a season of renewal, gifts, and wider vision:
Ashes
8/11/2007
We rise again from ashes,
from the good we've failed to do.
We rise again from ashes,
to create ourselves anew.
If all our world is ashes,
then must our lives be true,
An offering of ashes,
An offering to You. --> -->
We offer You our failures,
we offer You attempts;
The gifts not fully given,
the dreams not fully dreamt.
Give our stumblings direction,
give our visions wider view,
An offering of ashes,
An offering to You. --> -->
Then rise again from ashes,
let healing come to pain;
Though spring has turned to winter,
and sunshine turned to rain.
The rain we'll use for growing,
and create the world anew,
From an offering of ashes,
An offering to You. --> -->
... Thanks be to the Father,
who made us like Himself.
... Thanks be to His Son,
who saved us by His death.
... Thanks be to the Spirit,
who creates the world anew,
From an offering of ashes,
from the good we've failed to do.
We rise again from ashes,
to create ourselves anew.
If all our world is ashes,
then must our lives be true,
An offering of ashes,
An offering to You. --> -->
We offer You our failures,
we offer You attempts;
The gifts not fully given,
the dreams not fully dreamt.
Give our stumblings direction,
give our visions wider view,
An offering of ashes,
An offering to You. --> -->
Then rise again from ashes,
let healing come to pain;
Though spring has turned to winter,
and sunshine turned to rain.
The rain we'll use for growing,
and create the world anew,
From an offering of ashes,
An offering to You. --> -->
... Thanks be to the Father,
who made us like Himself.
... Thanks be to His Son,
who saved us by His death.
... Thanks be to the Spirit,
who creates the world anew,
From an offering of ashes,
2 comments:
Beautiful. I, too, do not have to read the hymnal for that song, and many others during Lent (like "Hosea"). Oddly enough, they didn't play that song at the service I went to today, but thanks for the reminder of the spirit of Lent!
beautiful.
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