This Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., our church family will gather to mark the beginning of Lent. For many of our longtime members, this service is a sacred milestone—a rhythmic pause you have returned to for decades. For many of our students, however, the "smudge" on the forehead and the history behind it are brand-new experiences.
When we receive the ashes, we hear the grounding words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” In a world that is increasingly loud and demanding, Ash Wednesday is a signal to slow down. It levels the playing field for every generation. From our 6th graders to our retirees, we are reminded of our mortality and our shared humanity. There is a deep relief in admitting that we don’t have to be self-made; we rely entirely on the grace of God for our every breath.
To help our students (and ourselves) lean into this, we are viewing this service as a moment to subtract the noise and add our attention. By setting aside the distractions of the week to sit in the quiet of the sanctuary, we focus our hearts on the grace that meets us exactly where we are. We don’t receive these ashes to earn God’s favor or to prove how "religious" we are; we do it as a sign of repentance—a simple, honest turning back toward the One who loves us.
There is something powerful about seeing a teenager and a great-grandparent standing in the same line, receiving the same mark. It reminds our youth that faith isn’t a performance—it is a lifelong practice of belonging to God. Whether you have walked this path for eighty years or this is your very first time, we invite you to sit with us this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. as we begin this journey toward Easter together. Richard Klusmeier Middle School Leader