Revitalize Your Church

In honor of Ash Wednesday, I'm re-posting the following story from my first book, Filled Up, Poured Out:  How God's Spirit Can Revive Your Passion and Purpose. Northern Wisconsin is Lutheran and Catholic territory, and this means two things: Lutefisk before Christmas, and Lent before Easter. I didn’t know much about either growing up. Until moving to Hayward, I had never heard of Lutefisk, and figured Lent was stuff you trap in the dryer. Living in the Northwoods, I’ve discovered that Lutefisk is a piece of cod that passes all understanding. (Actually, it’s a rather unappetizing, gelatinous Nordic dish made from dried, salted whitefish and lye.) We’ll let the Lutherans keep it. Lent, however, is something we’ve happily pilfered from our more liturgical brethren. We start with Ash Wednesday, forty days before Easter. I smudge ashes on the foreheads of willing parishioners, repeating, “From dust you’ve come, to dust you shall return.” For a few years, I drove over to St. Joe’...

RX For Spiritual Health: Starting Ash Wednesday (Feb. 25) and continuing though Easter Sunday (April 12) Take Two Spiritual Pills Three Times a Day 1) Before You Get Out of Bed: “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24) “Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days. (Psalm 90:14) 2) At Mid-Day, During Lunch: “All things work together for good for those who love the Lord” (Rom. 8:28) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13) 3) In the Evening as You are Preparing for Bed: “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you, alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8) “When I lie down, I will not be afraid. When I lie down, my sleep will be sweet." (Prov. 3:24)

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. For about a decade, now, we have held Lenten Services each Wednesday at noon -- and we always kick off with the imposition of the ashes. Until last year, I borrowed ashes from my buddy, Father Bill at the Catholic Church -- but then he retired, and my "ash stash" disappeared. During my last borrowing, I asked the good reverend where he got the ashes. With a somber expression, he replied, "The funeral home, of course." Later, he admitted, to my disappointment, that he didn't get them from the funeral home at all ("And we wouldn't want THOSE ashes anyway" he explained, "They're much too clunky!") Rather, the ashes are from burning last year's palm branches. "Wow, that's really something!" I exclaimed, "Recycled palm branches!!" There's some significance in that -- Last year's praise can be THIS year's ashes! But the beauty of Easter is that after the ashes -- we w...

Today, we held an Ash Wednesday Service at noon. About 45 people showed up for a time of Scriptures, old hymns, and prayers. We concluded with the imposition of ashes. Some pastor buddies scratch their heads at this one. "Are you turning Catholic or something?" Well, Hayward is Catholic and Lutheran country. When in Rome, you do what the Romans do -- and a few good ideas can come from Rome and Wittenburg! No, the Bible doesn't say you're supposed to observe Ash Wednesday -- but it doesn't say anything about Christmas Eve services either. As far as I can see it, Ash Wednesday has three points to it: 1. It is a reminder of our mortality. From dust we come -- to dust we shall return. 2. It is a call to humility. We must rememer that apart from Christ, we're only dust. 3. It is a challenge to repentance -- since life is short, and we live only by grace -- we shoud mend our ways and follow the Savior wholeheartedly. We all searched our hearts at the service an...

Through the Lenten season, we had prayer services at noon each Wednesday. I really enjoyed the depth and fellowship with the 50 or so people who attended each week. Last Wednesday, our Spiritual Formation pastor, Heath Davis, mapped out a beautiful service, which was "Ancient/Future" by accident. Here's the order of service: Scripture -- 1st century O Sacred Head, Now Wounded -- 12th century Celtic prayer -- 7th century There is a Redeemer - 20th century Christ the Lord is Risen -- 18th century Scripture -- 1st century Crown Him with Many Crowns -- 19th century Message by Heath (21st Century) with video excert from 20th century Video (21st century) of Mahler's 2nd Symphony "Resurrection" (19th Century) Now, is that cool or what??