Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

If you are not familiar with the term "Ash Wednesday" what would you think it would mean? Does it mean that you clean the ashes out of the fireplace on Wednesday, or that Wednesday is the day it’s ok to burn the leaves? What is the connection between ashes and Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday is the 7th Wednesday before Easter Sunday and the first day of the Lenten Season. The early practice of placing ashes on a worshipper’s head or forehead gives this day its name. This was done as a symbol of mourning and sorrow at the death sin brings. In the early church ashes were not placed on everybody’s head but those who had made public confession of sin and sought to be restored to the community fellowship at the Easter celebration. Later on it came to be seen as a mark of humility that the whole community of believers participated in to identify their own lives with the consequences of sin had it not been for the sacrificial death of Jesus, the Christ.

In many church traditions Lent is a season of self-denial, penance and great solemnity. Most of all Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday, is a deliberate placing of ourselves before God to once again remember and respond to His presence in our lives. It is saying with Job "I know that my Redeemer liveth…" because we have placed our hurts, fears, anxieties, failures, and hopes in His nail scarred hands.

This year at Matthew’s Café we want to use this Lenten season to "turn our … back to God. It may be that you need to turn your heart back to God, or turn your fears over to God; perhaps turn your life over to God, or turn control of your life over to God. This time of reflection is meant to be a journey for you to place your life in God’s hands and allow His transforming grace to work in and through you so that Easter is a celebration of victory and new hope for us all.

On Ash Wednesday, February 25, from 7-9 the café will be open for a time of Prayer and Praise. It will be a time for you to come and use the time as you need. It may be that you need to sit quietly in a corner even if everybody else is singing. It may be that you need to ask somebody to hear your confession or just have individual prayer for something in your life. The intention is to use music and prayer to begin whatever God has planned for you.

The Prayer Team

Transition

As most of you know, Terry Walling recently release his new book "Stuck." He shared his insights on how to recognize and navigate through the transitions of life and how they are part of the work God is doing through us. Not only does Terry teach and write about transitions, he is going through one himself right now. And so is Matthew's Café.

Over the past few years Terry has taken on the lead pastor role at Matthew's Café. He has used his apostolic gifting as a visionary to get our church to the place it is at today. He has been instrumental in creating a place where we can participate in genuine worship of God, have real authentic relationships with each other and be challenge to engage our community with the hope of Jesus Christ.

As God continues to move and lead in Terry's life, He is taking him in a different direction. Terry's role and level of involvement at Matthew's Café has greatly changed in order to be faithful to God's calling and give it the attention it needs. Terry has already transitioned out of the lead pastoral role and, just recently, has step off of the Leadership Team. He will continue to call Matthew's Café his home and provide us with leadership development and teaching from time to time.

This Sunday we will spend some time talking more about this transition, what Terry is doing now and how this impacts the Café. We hope to see you there.

Blessings,

Jayson