Ashwednesday

On Ashwednesday Pastor Joe Burnham [LCMS Rocky Mountain District] together with our longstanding colleague Rev. Musawenkosi Mntambo and the student of theology Mr. Skosana Thokane from St.Peters in Middleburg conducted the confessional service with propers for Ashwednesday introducing us to the lenten tide with the reminder: You come from dust and will return to dust!
Doing this together with my eldest son, who is attending introductory courses at LTS in New Testament studies and also in Lutheran Symbolics was a special experience.
In the sight of God there is no reason for either superiority or inferiority complexes. We are all sinners, who are justified by the grace of Christ alone, who forgives us our sins and restores us to divine kinship. Thankfully this gospel message came out loud and clear in the absolution, which was meted out with the individual address: By the command of our Lord Jesus Christ I as a properly called and ordained servant of the Church forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit+ Depart in peace.