Preparing the fireBegin by ripping cardboard boxes into asmaller pieces about the size of a creditcard. If cardboard is thick, you might peelapart the layers to reduce the thickness.

Upon these cardboard pieces, each familymember is invited to write or draw asorrow from the past year: deaths, losses,missed opportunities, grudges,frustrations, sins, pains. Use as manypieces of cardboard as needed to captureall that might be in the way of possibility.

Once all of these sorrows are recorded,place them into the chosen container forburning. Rip up the mail that was headedto the recycling bin and add those bits asextra fuel to the fire. Pray these wordstogether before sparking a match to lightthe fire.

FIRE AND ASHES this is 2021Ashes are what is left after the fire.Nothing will become of them. They areswept up and disposed. That's how itusually is, but nothing is as it usually is.

Lent begins, again, with the joys andhopes of last year charred and burned.Lent always begins like this. It alwaysleans into the hope of renewal wherewhat has been reduced to ashes will findnew life. So we begin this year to preparefor what will come.

a ritual to begin the season of lent

GETTING READY

container for burning: charcoal grill,large cast iron dutch oven forcamping or stovetop, terra-cottaflower pot lined with aluminum foil, afire pit or a large coffee cancardboard box or two or three(thinner cardboard will burn faster) mail headed for the recycle binmarkers, pens or pencilsmatchescooking oilsmall bowlwooden spoonpitcher or large jar full of water

Before you gathering outside for thissacred moment, gather the followingitems together:

O God, your earth suffersand crumbles into ruinlike ashes in a fire. Our hope has been consumed so that we come to this fireto find the courageto rise from the ashes.O God, give us a clean heart. Amen.

by Elsa Anders Cook

tend to the fireThere is something so soothing aboutwatching a fire. Allow yourselves to bepresent to this moment noticing thecolors and sounds. Feel the heat warmingyour body. Poke at the fire, as needed, tomake sure that all of those sorrows andfrustrations are consumed.

If music is what feels needed, navigate toYouTube to listen to The Porter's Gate'ssong Illuminate the Shadows or byclicking this link. As the fire fades, turnyour hearts to hear these words of hopefrom the prophet Isaiah.

Quenching with waterDose the last embers of the fire withwater from the pitcher. These watersrecall the waters of baptism and renewal.It is with this water that we not onlyremember grace but that God blesseswith possibility.

You might share with one another whatfeels possible right now. Or what youeach hope will be possible in the weeksahead.

Add more oil until it seems possible todip your finger into the ashes and smeara cross upon another's forehead. Withyour finger, mark each forehead with asign of the cross and repeat these words.

You are dust and to dust you shall return but you will always bebeloved by God.

The LORD will guide youcontinually, and satisfy yourneeds in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a wateredgarden, like a spring of water,whose waters never fail.Your ancient ruins shall berebuilt; you shall raise up thefoundations of manygenerations; you shall be calledthe repairer of the breach, therestorer of streets to live in.

Isaiah 58:11-12, New Revised Standard Version

MAke and share ashes Spoon some of the damp, charredremains of your sorrows into the bowl.There may still be large pieces and itmay well be still hot so be careful.

Use the spoon to break down the ashesinto dust. When dust is all that remains,stir in a drop or two of oil to make apaste.

If you feel moved to respond whenreceiving the ashes, you can say Amen.

BlessingYou might choose to close with music sothat you find your way again to YouTubeto find Common Hymnal's song Rise or byclicking this link. Or you might join handsand share in the blessing.

You are in Christ and you arepart of the new creation. The old things have gone away,and new things bloom! All of these new wonders are from God, who brings ustogether to share in the work of possibility. May it be so.