A MARK OF FAITH IT'S ASH WEDNESDAY, WITH A TWIST.Byline: Holly J. Andres Staff Writer VAN NUYS - Worshippers will be urged to take a positive approach to the Lenten season during an Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday, in the Western Church, the first day of Lent, being the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On this day ashes are placed on the foreheads of the faithful to remind them of death, of the sorrow they should feel for their sins, and of the necessity of service at Christ the King Lutheran Church. ``Lutherans don't usually fast or give something up for Lent - that's not our tradition,'' said the Rev. Ruth Sievert sie·vert n. Abbr. Sv A unit of ionizing radiation absorbed dose equivalent in the International System of Units, obtained as a product of the absorbed dose measure in grays and a dimensionless factor, stipulated by the International from Christ the King Lutheran Church. ``The idea behind giving something up for Lent is rooted in the need to discipline yourself, and it's something of a folk tradition now. I'm going to urge people to add something to Lent.'' Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter allowing Christians to reflect on their spiritual life. Easter falls on March 27 this year. ``Ash Wednesday is a time of remembering our brokenness, our sinfulness and knowing we are God's beloved children,'' Sievert said. ``Lent is sort of like spring housecleaning house·clean·ing n. 1. The cleaning and tidying of a house and its contents. 2. Informal Removal of unwanted personnel, methods, or policies in an effort at reform or improvement. . We are getting honest with ourselves and coming honestly before God. We're also journeying with Jesus to his death and resurrection.'' During Lent, Sievert suggested, worshippers can add a Scripture reading or prayer to their day. Other ``additions'' could include recording observations on faith in a journal, reading a contemporary book on being a Christian or doing volunteer work. During the hour-long Ash Wednesday service, Sievert will mark the sign of a cross on worshippers' foreheads as she recites the traditional words of Ash Wednesday: ``Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return.'' ``The mark of the cross is to remind us of our baptism, and it is a reminder of God's unconditional love This article is about concept of unconditional love. For other uses, see Unconditional love (disambiguation). Unconditional love is a concept that means showing love towards someone regardless of his or her actions or beliefs. for us,'' Sievert said. ``For Lutherans, symbolism and ritual are very important. The mark of the cross in ashes reminds us of who we are and whose (servant) we are.'' The service also will feature the church's Voice of God Choir, directed by Rahn Coleman. ``Ash Wednesday is for the faithful,'' said Coleman, a professional musician who has been with the church for almost five years. ``It is one of the most important services that any Christian should attend. ``Ash Wednesday is an affirmation of who you are. For me, Lent is a season of continual contemplation until Easter. I try to maintain a prayerful prayer·ful adj. 1. Inclined or given to praying frequently; devout. 2. Typical or indicative of prayer, as a mannerism, gesture, or facial expression. vigil every day.'' Christ the King Lutheran Church's Ash Wednesday service is an invitation for any Christian - Lutheran or not - to experience a renewal and prepare for the celebration of Easter. ``Particularly in this time, being an active Christian is Christian I (krĭs`chən), 1426–81, king of Denmark (1448–81), Norway (1450–81), and Sweden (1457–64), count of Oldenburg, and founder of the Oldenburg dynasty of Danish kings. not the most easy thing to be. I think to be one who genuinely follows the Christian faith is counter-culture,'' Sievert said. ``Christians make a decision to live ethically, morally and with constant assessing of our priorities to serve God. To be one who follows Jesus is to embrace suffering. But there is great enormous joy because we are claimed by God and nothing can separate us from that.'' An Ash Wednesday service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 17400 Vanowen St., Van Nuys. The Rev. Ruth Sievert will also lead a Holy Communion service the celebration of the Lord's supper, or the office or service therefor. See also: Communion at 5:30 p.m. today that will be followed by a pancake pancake, thin, flat cake, made of batter and baked on a griddle or fried in a pan. Pancakes, probably the oldest form of bread, are known in different forms throughout the world. and sausage ``Shrove shrove v. A past tense of shrive. shrove n shrove the first day of Shrovetide. Vastedag ???? ????????? Tuesday'' supper. ``The Transfiguration Transfiguration, in the New Testament, manifestation wherein Jesus appeared "shining" before Peter, James, and John. The traditional explanation is that in it Jesus' divine glory shone in his earthly body. Mt. of Our Lord'' will be Sievert's message at the Holy Communion service at 10 a.m. Sunday. Call (818) 342-0302 or see www.christthekinglutheran.com. Holly Andres, (818) 713-3708 holly.andres(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Rahn Coleman, center, director of the Voice of God Choir at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Van Nuys, is flanked by two choir members, Mim Janssen and Beverly Petersen. The choir is in rehearsal for this week's Ash Wednesday service. John McCoy/Staff Photographer |
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