Ash Wednesday.

Today's Song: "Ashes" -- Jonathan Rundman.

the Lenten Soundtrack is now available! i worked super hard this morning (ie: insert disc, push copy, make label, drink coffee.) getting these ready for your listening pleasure! look for the stack of purple cd cases (note appropriate seasonal color choice!) in the narthex this evening...7 songs to help you on the lenten journey. i'll be interested to see a) who takes them, and b) what your thoughts are. each song is purposely chosen to go with the week in lent, holy week, and the first week after easter. all i'm asking is that if you choose to take a disc, please leave $3.50 in the envelope or on my desk (the musican must feed his 2 lovely children).

my thoughts on 'ashes'...

i know you've not heard the song yet. but this is a fav of mine from the entirety of the 52 song collection. it's got a country-ish vibe (wahoo!) and i find the lyrics particularly meaningful. i really like ash wednesday -- something so old, holy, symbolic about kneeling @ the rails and getting marked with a cross. so humbling -- not only from the 'i sin and therefore need to repent' aspect, but also from the 'i feel really little and insignificant in light of the thousands of years of tradition and meaning of this thing' aspect. i really like the connection i feel to the people who have gone before us in the faith -- hard to put into words, but i feel like we are part of something timeless. plus i figure some dudes who are way smarter than me thought it good and wise to do this, why not allow myself to be open to the experience? on a side note, i really like that about being a lutheran. the history and tradition (two words that can carry super bad connotations, btw!) really appeal to the experience side of my faith...

grab the disc, listen to the song, ponder the ashes on your forehead and what you are trying hard to learn...