Ash Wednesday & The Internet
Dear Church Family,
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. As you know, we had the sanctuary open throughout the morning where people experienced a beautiful self-directed Ash Wednesday experience. Many thanks to Emily Bredthauer for putting that all together.
In addition, we had multiple people participate in our “Drive Through” Ash Wednesday station. It was wonderful to meet people in their car and impose ashes upon their foreheads with the traditional words, “Repent, and believe the good news.” I was even able to bless three dogs who came along for the ride.
We also had a wonderful surprise yesterday, as eight people from outside of our church family came through the line to receive ashes. At first, I thought they had just noticed our station as they came to either drop off or pick up their child at the preschool. And in one case that was true, as I got to meet a wonderful couple who were here from Spain visiting their grandchild.
Later, as we were wrapping up, a car arrived with three people and a dog. They had just moved from Seattle and were eager to receive ashes. I welcomed them warmly, noting their Catholic background as they addressed me as "father" and mentioned they hadn't been to confession. I reassured them it was perfectly fine with this United Methodist pastor.
After putting ashes upon them, I asked, “How did you know we were doing this?” They said, we were the first church to pop-up online when they searched, “Drive Through Ashes in San Clemente.” It was then that the light bulb went on, and I understood why we had so many new people had come by.
It made me reflect on this strange and wonderful world we live in today. Yes, technology can be frustrating. And yes, in the wrong hands, it can do a great deal of harm. But, like so many things, it also has the power to share God’s love in many positive ways. Most of our ministries happen on campus, but I sometimes forget that we are connected with the wider world through our website, our online worship, and social media. And even though I’m not a big social media person, having a Graphic Design and Social Media coordinator on our staff team is helping us shine God’s light to a wider world.
So today, as we start the season of Lent, I am mindful that God’s message of love that we strive to share at St. Andrew’s By-The-Sea is being heard. The small acts we do here, are reaching people beyond our walls. Whether it’s new people who drive through for ashes, people who will receive the food you brought for FAM last Sunday, those we pray for who are shared on our prayer board, or any other number of things we do, they are all children of God. And we are sharing the good news of God’s love with them in ways we never imagined.
Keep connecting, growing, and serving here at St. Andrew’s, because we are God’s witnesses to “the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8b).
With God’s Love,
Pastor Karl
