I grew up with an observance of Ash Wednesday.. but we didn't do the actual "Ash Cross" or anything like that.. we just did by prayer, and self denial... Then at some point (just before Easter) we actually made a monetary "self denial" donation to our church and usually with a special use for the money collected.. Which was supposed to be money from something you denied yourself of having (that you either wanted or needed) and gave to God, for a specific reason. Like perhaps helping out an elder person at the church (with groceries or whatever)..We were impressed with the service, and it was all a serious, heartfelt service with praise and worship and a good many scriptures. Also, we were giving...
INVITATION TO THE OBSERVANCE OF LENTEN DISCIPLINE:
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: the early Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration there should be a forty-day season of SPIRITUAL PREPARATION. During this season converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when persons who had committed serious sins and had separated themselves from the community of faith were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to participation in the life of the Church. In this way the whole congregation was reminded of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all the need we all have to renew our faith. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self examination and repentance: by prayer, fasting, and self denial: and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word. To make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us know bow before our Creator and Redeemer.
Joel 2 The Day of the LORD 1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: Joel 2:12-17 A Call to Repentance 12 “ Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “ Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him— A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; 16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders,Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. 17 Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘ Where is their God?’”
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