Prayer
God of life-giving mission
Your Son Jesus Christ calls us to you and to your mission of peace and justice: May your Spirit move all leaders and people of this Diocese to fulfil your mission in our lifetime; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Amen
Transformation & Renewal
Welcome
Liturgy & Worship
Evangelism
Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I greet you today as we begin the Season of Lent. Last year's palm crosses have been burned and destroyed by fire. Only ashes remain. "Leave the past in ashes", our liturgy tells us. But this is a hard thing for us to do. It is so much easier to cling to the past. We hold on to past hurts, we relive old memories, we dwell on unforgiven sins.
We cling to grudges. And we begin to feel hopeless. Because we are a Church steeped in tradition, we can easily fall into the trap of constantly looking backwards. But Ash Wednesday urges us again, "Return to the Lord with all your heart; leave the past in ashes and turn to God with tears and fasting, for he is slow to anger and ready to forgive."