[st uriel's] Ash Wednesday

[Rev Fr Tim Mansfield]

Sisters and Brothers,

Due to a calendar mix-up the church season of Lent has kind of snuck up on
me. This Tuesday night is Fat Tuesday (or Mardi Gras as it's called in the
Latin world), so feel free to pop on a big headdress, dance in the streets
and get a little drunk on Tuesday night.

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the forty day solemn season of
Lent. It's traditional to attend church on Wednesday morning to receive a
cross on the forehead made of ash.

So, the first thing is: I'm happy to do an Ash Wednesday service on
Wednesday morning if anyone would like one. We can finalise the location
when I work out who's coming, but probably just at my house.

** Please let me know if you'd like to attend an Ash Wednesday service to
mark the start of Lent.

The second thing is that Easter is a traditional time to get baptised if you
aren't already. We use the season of Lent as preparation for baptism - to
make sure you know what you need to know and to pray and do some preliminary
rituals. Then on Easter Sunday we do a baptism.

Baptism is the fundamental initiation rite of the Church. Because you're
doused in water, it has an obvious symbolism of purification – washing the
Self clean – but it also carries implications of entering into the stream of
the tradition, and being dipped into the Divine. Esoterically, the rite
marks your formal introduction to the Holy Spirit, making it easier for you
to call on Her help in prayer.

** So, if you aren't baptised and you'd like to consider preparing through
Lent in order to take Baptism at Easter, please let me know.

If I don't see you on Wednesday, enjoy these last couple of days before the
start of Lent and consider taking some steps to draw your attention further
inward through the Lenten season in preparation for the Inbreaking of the
Light of Resurrection at Easter.

Yours in Love and Light,

Reverend Father Tim Mansfield
Rector, Parish of Saint Uriel the Archangel <http://www.saint-uriels.org>,
Sydney, Australia
Apostolic Johannite Church <http://www.johannite.org>
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