Lent: Day 1, Ash Wednesday
I just came home from the Ash Wednesday service, which was very nice this year. I was surprised at the attendance, more than we often have at the 11AM service on Sunday.
Some of my friends many not be Christians, or may be of a denomination that does not observe Lent. I am United Methodist, and we observe most of the special traditional days.
So if you don't know what Ash Wednesday is, or Lent, here is a link:
What is Ash Wednesday?
Behind the cut are the words to a hymn new to me, although the tune was familiar (we sang it to the tune of "Amazing Grace". This was sung as the congregational prayer of confession.
Lord, who throughout these forty days
For us didst fast and pray,
Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins
And close by Thee to stay.
As Thou with Satan didst contend,
And didst the victory win,
O give us strength in Thee to fight,
In Thee to conquer sin.
As Thou didst hunger bear, and thirst,
So teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and chiefly live
By Thy most holy Word.
And through these days of penitence,
And through Thy passiontide,
Yea, evermore in life and death,
Jesus, with us abide.
Abide with us, that so, this life
Of suffering over past,
An Easter of unending joy
We may attain at last.
As I have tried to do for the last few years, I will try give up complaining, whining and ranting. And I will try to post something special each day that will be joyful, inspiring or uplifting.
Some of my friends many not be Christians, or may be of a denomination that does not observe Lent. I am United Methodist, and we observe most of the special traditional days.
So if you don't know what Ash Wednesday is, or Lent, here is a link:
What is Ash Wednesday?
Behind the cut are the words to a hymn new to me, although the tune was familiar (we sang it to the tune of "Amazing Grace". This was sung as the congregational prayer of confession.
Lord, who throughout these forty days
For us didst fast and pray,
Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins
And close by Thee to stay.
As Thou with Satan didst contend,
And didst the victory win,
O give us strength in Thee to fight,
In Thee to conquer sin.
As Thou didst hunger bear, and thirst,
So teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and chiefly live
By Thy most holy Word.
And through these days of penitence,
And through Thy passiontide,
Yea, evermore in life and death,
Jesus, with us abide.
Abide with us, that so, this life
Of suffering over past,
An Easter of unending joy
We may attain at last.
As I have tried to do for the last few years, I will try give up complaining, whining and ranting. And I will try to post something special each day that will be joyful, inspiring or uplifting.