A Retired Rector's Reflections

On Ash Wednesday I took some ash home.

During lockdown days at my church we had blessed ash, made the sign of the cross on cards with ash and posted the cards, with suggestions for observing Lent at home, to our church members. This small gesture was very much appreciated. I enjoyed making this connection between communal and private faith.

So this year at the church I attended I made the sign of the cross with Ash on two pieces of card. One I posted to someone I know who cannot get to church, and included a brief letter.

I had also decided to have an ‘ash cross card’ for myself and placed it in my hallway at home, as a reminder of this special season. A reminder that not only are we in Lent but also, more somberly, as the words at ashing say ‘you are dust and to dust you shall return’. In modern liturgies the words ‘turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel’ are often added to those sombre words. So the ash cross also reminds me to read and think about the Gospel.

A day or two after Ash Wednesday a man came to do some boiler repairs at home and noticed the cross and said ‘Oh yes, its Lent now isn’t it?’ His comment took me by surprise, but began an interesting little conversation.

I remember another example of making connections between church and home. The sisters who served in the parish for several years were moving to a new Mother House. We received a boxful of crosses and crucifixes from their old convent. I blessed them all and then, on Holy Cross Day (September 14), with the sisters’ encouragement, we invited each household represented at Mass to choose one and take it home – on condition it was placed on a wall somewhere at home. It was so much appreciated and seen as a sign of faith and a blessing in the home.

Lockdown days were strange and difficult, but there were also positives. For churchgoers it was as if the church was more in the home – albeit at times on a screen. Objects and sounds often had more meaning. We got to know one another in different ways.

I have a hope that the insitutional church can encourage and develop more this interconnecting of the communal church activity with personal, family faith – the church of the home. So lets look out for more crosses displayed, blessed candles being lit at home, nativity scenes having a central part in Christmas decoration, and say spring flowers at Easter. I am sure there are many more examples for us to explore.