I blogged here about how i was looking forward to attending my first ash wednesday service and taking part in being signed by the cross and I just wanted to share my experience. If you are interested in the full service you can see Mark's notes here and some images/art work that was created during the service here.
The image above is courtesy of Flickr but captures something for me of the essence of the power/wonder of being in a room where people in pairs took it in turns to make the sign of the cross on each others forehead using the ashes whilst saying the words 'from dust you were formed and to dust you will return' - so many people afterwards had this little dark cross on their foreheads and it was such a visual reminder of how we are the body of Christ brought together in all our crazy diversity/differences.
For me it is also a very poignant moment - i come from a background which has minored on expressions of worship other than singing - being marked with the cross, identifying myself with Jesus my liberating king, of spending a moment reflecting/rethinking/repenting and recomitting myself as someone one who wants to live a life that is visibly marked by Jesus was both healing and liberating for me.
Wow. That does sound very very powerful.
Posted by: Molly | 24 February 2007 at 07:46 PM
Yes it was awesome and really moving...
Posted by: Paul | 26 February 2007 at 09:28 AM