Ash Wednesday Diary

8:00 a.m.

Stop at church to pick up ashes, bread, wine, and the communion kit.

 

9:00 a.m

Visit R.H., who doesn’t leave home much, and her home care aid, M., in Naperville. We talk about the pictures on her walls, mostly painted or drawn by relatives, now long dead. We share ashes and communion.

 

10:15 a.m.

Pick up my laptop from the Apple Store. Keyboard had to be replaced after I, er, spilled blueberry juice on it. Yes, blueberry – an Odwalla juice blend at a Caribou Coffee.

 

10:40 a.m.

Back at the office. Answer email. Wash off ashes. Prepare for noon service.

 

12 noon

Ash Wednesday service with eleven people. No music. Ashes and communion.

 

1:20 p.m.

Tweak my sermon, which I’ll preach again tonight. Talk to a guy on the phone who’s looking for AA or NA groups for his girlfriend to attend, since she’s just getting out of rehab. Wash off ashes.

 

2:30 p.m.

Visit R.W., who couldn’t get a ride to services today. We watch some Judge Judy, have a cup of instant coffee, and chat about her kids. We share ashes and communion.

 

3:10 p.m.

Meet the piano tuner at church. Write a few newsletter articles. Talk to a colleague about a sticky church situation she’s dealing with today.

 

4:30 p.m.

Walk the dog. Take a nap. Have some dinner. Wash off ashes.

 

6:00 p.m.

Stop by Starbucks with Adam for some coffee. (Might regret this later…)

 

6:10 p.m.

Prepare for 7 o’clock service. Feeling good about the coffee.

 

7:00 p.m.

Ash Wednesday service with fifty people. Choir. Handbells. Ashes and communion.

 

8:30 p.m.

Change into pajamas. Wash off ashes. Begin to regret that cup of coffee.

 

9:30 p.m.

Still feeling that cup of coffee. But feeling good.

 

Comments

  1. This is really moving. Especially in its simplicity. Wow.