The year turns and Ash Wednesday, beginning the season of Lent, will be here soon. I’d like to encourage you to greet this with joy.
The purpose of the season of Lent, as described by the wonderful Sr Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun from the US, is to ‘remind us who we are and who we are not.’ Ash Wednesday is a time to rest in the truth that we are simply human. As the ancient wisdom says, ‘remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.’ We are just mortal.
There is another side to this, of course, Sr Joan writes that we should each have two pockets: “In one the message, ‘I am dust and ashes’ and in the other, ‘For me the universe was made.’” So there it is, the beginning of the answer to who we are and who we are not. We are both simply fallible human beings, yet also, the precious children of God, the Creator of all.
I hope that I’m not alone in absolutely loving Ash Wednesday and seeking to rest in its the truth. It’s a day to cease clinging to things and habits that aren’t doing me any good, and finding freedom and joy in deeper truth and simplicity.
You are invited to make your way to the cathedral in person or online on Ash Wednesday, 22 February, for the beginning of Lent. The clergy will be present for a Ministry Day of prayer, worship, service and ‘Ashes to Go’ in the Outer and Inner Close. The Eucharist will take place at noon and at 5.30pm. Ash Wednesday is a day for turning to God and experiencing the joy, freedom and relief of being forgiven and accepted, without compromise.
Amongst the complexity and frailties of human life I want to say a word about the statement from the House of Bishops concerning relationships and sexual identity. This is being debated at Synod this week.
The House of Bishops was frank about the diversity and theological disagreements amongst the bishops. Yet they were able to come to a common mind about the need to apologise to LGBTQI+ people and to urge churches to ‘welcome same-sex couples unreservedly and joyfully.’ Prayers of blessing may be said, but same-sex (equal) marriage may not take place.
This position is a compromise and is unlikely to make anyone completely happy. For some it goes much too far and for others not far enough. The compromise is for the sake of holding the church together and is costly to many.
The Cathedral has a particular calling to be here for everyone and our intention, without hesitation, is to offer an unreserved welcome to all. We will joyfully offer the prayers of blessing for couples who seek to mark, in the presence of God and family and friends, significant stages of life and love and we welcome the opportunity to do so.
Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester
