People are hungry for the sacraments and the sacramental. They are listening for what the mystic Howard Thurman called "the sound of the genuine."
Yesterday, March 5, just over 100 persons attended the three Ash Wednesday liturgies inside the nave of St Paul's. And 537 people (at least--we might have missed a few!) received Ashes to Go on or near the Duval Street steps of St Paul's. My thanks to Brooke Myers, Judy Sandground, Jennifer Trapani, Lisa Laskow, and Page Wittcamp for serving alongside me at the corner of Duval and Eaton and to Ken Bagge and Tim Peterson for setting up sun shelter for Ashes to Go.
We call those connections both inside and outside the church building "ministry touches." Our witness to the love and grace and goodness of God in Christ is amplified by being present both inside and outside the church building and meeting people where they are--on the street, in their pew, at the altar rail, wherever. Such a privilege to represent love, hope, and welcome.
The good news of God in Christ has redeemed and is redeeming the whole world, even when it least seems so. And we do well, always and everywhere, to increase the celebrity of Jesus Christ and contribute our part to the restoration of all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
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