Ash Wednesday
Yesterday was Shrove Tuesday so naturally we had pancakes, cooked and expertly tossed (well, nearly) by Ed. Delicious they were too.
Today is Ash Wednesday when we usually have a Communion service in the evening, but it’s never very well supported. So this year, in a change to the expected programme, we’re going to have a bring-and-share supper (where everyone brings some food and we share it out) followed by a film, ‘Son of Man’. It’s the story of the Passion but set in contemporary Africa, complete with soldiers. It’s really quite powerful. Then we’ll follow that with a very short (because the film is quite long) Celtic Communion.
BTW, Celtic Christianity was alive and well in these islands before Roman Catholicism was brought over by Saint Augustine. It centres on justice and reconciliation and is very close to the earth and things of nature. The main centre now is the small Scottish island of Iona, which has produced some stunning liturgy – one of which we’ll be using tonight.
So sounds quite exciting and different for tonight? I thought so, too. But needless to say, I’ve already had complaints.
“I can’t go to that. It isn’t right.”
“Oh?”
“No. Other people can go if they like, but those of us who like the old ways won’t have any service for the beginning of Lent.”
“But we are having a Communion…”
“Not the right sort, though.”
Oh well, you can’t win ‘em all. Or very many of them, come to that. It’ll be interesting to see how many turn up this year, since people inevitably vote with their feet.
I’m looking forward to it, anyway!
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