Religion: Reflecting on repentance during the Lenten season

“Therefore I yield, repenting in dust and ashes.” — Job 42:6 

Ashes and repentance have been associated since the time of Job, probably the Bible’s oldest book. Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, which leads to Easter.

Ash Wednesday services are increasing in the 21st century, which seems an oddity. They’re new to Presbyterians for about  25 years — often considered just a “Catholic thing.” About 15 years ago, a new idea appeared called “ashes to go!” Don’t leave your car, but have ashes imposed. Locally, a newly emerging student group took that idea this week and shared ashes at the Sample Gates of Indiana University. Called “the Open Table Collective,” the group seeks to be a “sanctuary for inquiring minds, wounded hearts and souls in search of meaning.” 

That small group of “mainline” denominational clergy and laypersons seeks to provide an alternative to the majority of campus ministries that tend to be “evangelical,” and even “evangelistic” — that is seeking to recruit others. “Mainline” denominations in recent years have continued to decrease their involvement  on campus — largely due to a lack of funds and interest to support them. When Father Ed Bird arrived at IU’s Canterbury House (Episcopal Campus Ministry) in the midst of the pandemic, he decided to change things.

Working with the also new rector at the local Episcopal parish, the Rev. Matthew Seddon, he embarked on finding colleagues and students who wanted to encourage welcoming and affirming attitudes, but also reaching out to students who were questioning long-held beliefs, and were ready to air their doubts. While several “mainline” churches responded to that interest, an eager graduate student joined the “Open Table” from a Mennonite Fellowship. Claire Jacobson was raised in Iowa, and is working on a degree in Middle Eastern language and culture. Her home church included the word ‘”Evangelical” in  its name (not Lutheran), but Claire says, “I was not a good evangelist!” She wants to help build something that will “help people know they are loved.” 

The Open Table “experiment” is in its beginning stages, the sharing of ashes being an early effort. Writing before Wednesday, I can’t say how it was received, but I know the Collective will continue their work of ministry to many who are not being reached by traditional means. Father Bird says that “God’s love is inclusive — each and every person is loved by God — without exception! There are no second-class citizens in the “kin-dom” of God.” Bird feels that God’s love and grace freely bestowed allows recipients  to have more grace for others

Father Seddons wrote a piece here about the necessity of repentance and acknowledgement of sin to be essential to Christian faith during Lent and at all  times.   He was responding to bills in the state Legislature which sought to avoid recognition of guilt and sin by school children. But in a time of war in Europe affecting the world, a two-year pandemic, racial unrest and political polarization, it seems wise for us, like Job, to repent in dust and ashes.

The givers of ashes at the Sample Gates simply wish that repentance, forgiveness and God’s grace can be extended to all — no exceptions!

God of the poor, friend of the weak,

Give us compassion, we pray. 

Melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain.

Come, change our love from a spark to a flame.

Refuge from cruel wars, havens from fear,

Cities for sanctuary, freedoms to share,

Peace to the killing fields, scorched earth to green

Christ for the bitterness, his cross for the pain.     

 — Graham Kendrick