As promised, I went to my first Ash Wednesday service ever at lunchtime at a traditional Episcopal church here in Denton. I was a little nervous going in, but I liked it. It was very simple, yet formal with just a priest and an assistant doing the service with no music. (This is the first time I can remember going to any service with no music.). I think that’s appropriate for the beginning of Lent.

The small narrow brick sanctuary was surprisingly full.

Both the quiet and the words of the service helped me to pray, to meditate on my own sin and the sacrifice of Christ for it, and to have a humble, grateful attitude before God. It’s hard to put it into words as such things usually are.