Ash Wednesday Community Building
For the first time in anyone's memory, we held a community Ash Wednesday service. This was a cooperative effort of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran churchs. The response was overwhelming. This will now be an annual event. We three pastors each preached a short homily following each of the scripture texts that were read. I preached on the Isaiah text . Here is the message I shared: At first glance, it’s easy to see why this portion of Isaiah is read on Ash Wed. It’s about fasting, which is a discipline some folks practice during Lent This reading is about right and wrong fasting and worship But the heart of the message goes far deeper “God was disturbed by Israel’s lack of social justice. Their fasting had become [a public show. It was] a means to boast of their righteousness rather than live out a faith where one cares for one’s neighbor” (Dr. Keith Wagner...