Ash Wednesday 2021
Across our Diocese, parishes and schools adapted to the current conditions to offer a meaningful Ash Wednesday at the start of Lent.
Bishop Nicholas preached his Ash Wednesday Sermon at Salisbury Cathedral, which was live-streamed. Read the text here and watch a video of the live-stream here.
The national Twitter feed 'Twishop Index' quoted Bishop Nicholas saying:
“If God can be present in bread and wine he’s just as present with us online.”
A number of parishes publicised the service, including Harnham, who also shared a video from the Revd Becky Roberts, and a link for calculating your carbon footprint.
Also sharing a video, Devizes Deanery collaborated across 9 parishes, with an impressive timelapse at the beginning and a sermon by Bishop Andrew. View the video here.
Bishop Karen shared a number of posts, one quoting a poem by Bournemouth University Chaplain Ruth Wells:
Everyday I hear the numbers,
The death toll,
Those words:
'Remember you are dust
And to dust you shall
return.'
Echo.
Life and death
Fragility & beauty
Interwoven
Keeping me grounded
Rooted in you.
Ebble Valley's John Adams shared 'A Sonnet for Ash Wednesday' from Malcolm Guite:
Receive this cross of ash upon your brow,
Brought from the burning of Palm Sunday’s cross.
The forests of the world are burning now
And you make late repentance for the loss.
But all the trees of God would clap their hands
The very stones themselves would shout and sing
If you could covenant to love these lands
And recognise in Christ their Lord and king.
(Read the whole sonnet here.)
The Revd Philip Bromiley, Rector of the Oldbury Benefice, recorded a video for use in schools in next week's Collective Worship, and up on Salisbury Plain, Rector Eleanor Rance tweeted:
"So many people seem defeated by the desert & quarantine of Lent. Given we have already experienced both this year, why don't we just use Lent to reach outwards? Our kids activity bags were on that theme, planting things, making hug cards- reaching out towards Easter & new life."
Beaminster supplied a 2-for-1, with an Ash Wednesday Service available on YouTube, and the more informal 'Rev Chat', with Revds David Baldwin and Chris Grasske, also available on YouTube.
Beautiful visuals were supplied by the likes of Jenny Nelson, who simply shared a video of running water and countryside to accompany Lent meditation, the Revd Adam Bullivant, who shared a trio of stunning black-and white photos, including this one of a cross in our Cathedral, and Colehill, who shared a still life that summed many things up.
See below for all the links we are aware of- and feel free to send yours in!
On Twitter:
Adam Bullivant- Cathedral cross
Adam Bullivant- ‘Ash tag’
Adam Bullivant- ashes
Bishop Karen
The Revd Eleanor Rance
The Revd Eve Pegler
Harnham Parish
John Adams
The Revd Matt Renyard
The Revd Sarah Hillman
Sarum St Thomas
Twishop Index
Twitter videos:
Gerry Lynch
Harnham Parish
Jenny Nelson
St Mark’s Herston
The Revd Stephane Javelle
On YouTube:
Beaminster Ash Wednesday Service
Beaminster Rev Chat
Devizes Deanery
Philip Bromiley Collective Worship
On Facebook:
Avon River Team
Bishop Karen
Colehill- reverse Lent for foodbank
Colehill- Pope Francis
Colehill- still life
The Revd Jacques Desrosiers
Piddle Valley
Red Post Benefice
St Andrew’s Devizes- Michael Hopkins
St James' Church Poole
St Paul’s Salisbury
Facebook videos:
Branksome St Aldhelm
Christchurch Creekmoor
Holy Trinity Weymouth
St James Ludgershall
St John’s Church Wimborne
St Mary's Church, Sixpenny Handley
St Mary’s West Moors
St Paul’s Salisbury
St Philip’s Church West Howe
Vale of Pewsey
Whitton Team
Linking to the Cathedral live stream:
The Revd Mike Perry
Harnham Parish
Hazel Ricketts
Salisbury Cathedral
St Thomas’ Salisbury
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