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Show "You get to thinking about what our lives are. What we want to strive for, taking out the bad, what I am doing and why and I am doing it." Phillis said burning the leaves was a messy and time-consuming job when done correctly but he loves being able to offer the service. "I like to think that I get involved in the tradition," he said. "People are then able to see something tangible when they get the ashes mixed with oil. It makes me feel good I helped carry on tradition." This coming Wednes- they will mark the holy season of Lent by receiving ashes mixed with oil on their foreheads in the sign of a cross. The service will mark the beginning of a season of fasting from something they normally enjoy in an effort to draw closer to Christ in preparation for Easter. "The important thing for me to remember is that fasting is so much more than a 'spiritual diet,'" said Pastor Karl Dumas. "It's more than giving up something, it should also involve more time in the presence of God." gether in Faith, Dumas offered an explanation by saying if someone gives up a meal (or TV show or something else) in fasting, the time that would have been spent preparing, eating or cleaning up after that meal (or in the activity) should be spent in prayer, reading scripture, or serving others. "If I give up coffee, candy bars, Doritos, that" money can go to a charity," Dumas said. "One year, I gave up junk food, did some math, figured out how much I would have spent on chips and stuff, and made a donation to several modern writers who also participate in the discussion with a variety of helpful insights for those wondering why, or when, or if they should fast. John Piper says that the saints of the church were so hungry for God's leadership that they wanted to say it with the hunger of their bodies as well as of their hearts. Catholic theologian Thomas Ryan cautions that fasting is not about changing so that God will love us, but about realizing that God loves us so that we can change, and that prac- Saxon word for spring. There is no mention of Lent in the Bible, but the ancient church was observing it as far back as the fourth century A.D., he said. "It was the season of preparation for Easter, with its joyous celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," he added. Lent is observed by the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican and Episcopal Churches, he said. The Eastern Orthodox See LENT, Page 3C Lent From 1C churches observe a called "Great Lent" which has a somewhat different length. Other Christian churches may or may not observe Lent, Thomas said. "The 40 days of Lent help us to remember the 40 days and nights that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness after His baptism," he said. "The period of 40 days was also the time Moses spent fasting on Mount Sinai as he received the Ten Commandments from God, and the time Elijah spent walking to Mount Sinai." Only weekdays are counted as days of Lent in the Western Churches, because on Sundays, the churches celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The Eastern Orthodox churches include Sundays, which is why Great Lent is a different length than Lent. "Lent is a season of simplicity, penitence, contrition, re-commitment, and preparation for Easter," added Thomas. In the Roman Catholic ' lurch, members are ex pected to fast during Lent, but in the Protestant churches, fasting is a personal choice. Putting ashes on one's head as a symbol of repentance and mourning is mentioned in the Bible in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Jonah 3:5-9; Job 42:6; Jeremiah 6:26, Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21. Some of the many area observances of Ash Wednesday next week include: • Elim Lutheran Church, 575 23rd Street, will offer a simple, simplified service with imposition of ashes at 3 p.m. and a full service with imposition of ashes, worship, and Holy Communion at 7 p.m. • Old Catholic Church, 375 Harrison Blvd. in Ogden, will hold services at noon and again at 6 p.m. • Clearfield Community Church will hold Ash Wednesday worship at 7 p.m. pm in the sanctuary follow ing a 6 p.m. dinner in the church's Fellowship Hall. The church is at 200 S. 500 East in Clearfield. • Mountain Road Church, 796 South Mountain Road in Fruit Heights, will celebrate at 7:30 p.m. • First United Methodist Church, 1339 West 400 North, Marriott-Slaterville, will hold services at 7 p.m. • First Baptist Church, New Beginnings Baptist Church, Together in Faith, will have a service at noon. This church is located at 2519 Jefferson Ave. in Ogden. • Ascension Lutheran Church, Ogden Utah 1105 N. Washington Blvd., will hold an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. You may reach' reporter JaNae Francis at 801-625- 4228. Follow her on Twitter at JaNaeFrancisSE. Like her Facebook page at https //www facebook.com/ SEJaNaeFrancis. |
