Ash Wednesday

Between Ashes and Alleluias • Lenten Series 2026

Scripture: Joel 2:12–13

“Even now,” declares the Lord,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Rend your heart

and not your garments.

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.

Today is Ash Wednesday.

A day that doesn’t ask us to arrive put together—

but invites us to come as we are.

Marked with ashes, we tell the truth about our lives:

that we are human, fragile, unfinished, and deeply in need of grace.

The ashes remind us where we come from.

But they are not the end of the story.

We begin this Lenten journey here—

between ashes and alleluias—

standing in the honest middle,

where repentance is not about beating ourselves up,

but about turning back toward God…

allowing our hearts to face home again.

Take a slow breath in… and out.

Let yourself arrive.

Ash Wednesday doesn’t say, “Do better.”

It says, “Come back.”

This is not a call of condemnation, but compassion.

The God who formed us from the dust meets us here with mercy

and invites us to begin again.

“Return to me with all your heart.”

Notice what stirs in you as you hear that invitation.

Is there resistance?

Relief?

A quiet longing?

Between ashes and alleluias,

we take the first small step—

trusting that the One who calls us back

is gracious, patient, and full of love.

Sit with whatever is rising in you.

Imagine yourself standing on this road—

between ashes and alleluias—

held not by judgment, but by mercy.

Breathe.

Receive.

Be still.