Ash Wednesday Night Mass - Saint Thomas More Catholic Parish - Sandy, UT - March 5th, 2014

       What an experience and way to end the night. To start with, finding the parish was a bit difficult, though now that I know where it is, I don't see myself getting lost again. When I arrived the readings had already been read...since it was the High Church though, it didn't matter as much since they were the same readings at Saint James Episcopal Church.

   Before I get into how the sermons differed though, I want to describe the Parish. The Parish is huge, this is where the Masses take place, but their is a whole other building that I wasn't able to get in the picture due to the lack of light and batteries dying on me. The Parish is simple like the Episcopal Parish, yet grand like any Cathedral. You can see it the design outside and it is inside as well. The tapestries have detail (a purple crown of thorns on a purple tapestry) and a Virgin Mary done in an elongated style (same with the risen Jesus). The Parish is a large congregation, when I arrived I wasn't able to find a seat until a few minutes in. The congregation is also diverse ranging all over the place in age and ethnicity. This is true of most Catholic Churches I've attended I've found.The music was amazing. There was a choir who all different age ranges and the music was traditional mixed with modern (a saxophone player was a part of the band).

    When I received the ash for the second time today, the words were "Repent and follow the Gospel," which was a very different emphasis than "From Dust you came and dust you shall return." The Catholic one had more emphasis on guilt for needing God versus the Episcopal emphasis on mortality and needing God. Both were good in their own ways and add as long as either doesn't consume. Being consumed by any emotion is extremely unproductive in regards to any sort of growth or helping others.  

    Now for the sermon, the sermon emphasized penance and remembrance of Jesus's time in the desert. That we should live on less and give more (as an interpretation that fit perfectly), and that we should not glorify ourselves (which again makes sense as far us not feeding our egos).

    Since I'm not a Catholic I didn't take the Eucharist and left after the song. It was a powerful experience and the Church is definitely worth another visit.

Ash Wednesday Noon Service - Saint James Episcopal Church - Midvale, UT - March 5th, 2014

      Saint James Episcopal Church was the perfect place to spend my afternoon of Ash Wednesday. The church is large but simple, inside there are rafters, a simple altar and purple tapestries in honor of the coming of Easter. The congregation is the largest Episcopal community I've seen outside of Issaquah and Olympia and the Priests and Deacons are all older.

 

        Getting to the Church was an experience in and of itself. From where I'm staying it was an hour walking up hill, which lead to great reflection once I was there. I was able take time to explore the grounds and found the memorial to one of the members who died. There was also an amphitheater behind the Church and in front, "God is Love." A message that is very New Testament God and Christianity.

     The service itself was very powerful. I didn't have a program, but because of it being High Church, I knew what to say at the right time in regards to the congregation call and response and even the psalms were familiar. It was a silent service and there was no music, all psalms were read and there were many moments of silence and reflection throughout the service. Suffice to say it was my type of service. The priest who spoke, spoke about reflection and incorporated in that we face ourselves in our relation to others is key. The reading from the Bible was Matthew where Jesus said only the hypocrites trumpet their good deeds and that good deeds should be done in secret and that what rewards we get are in Heaven and that is how we should live.

    It was a powerful sermon and I definitely plan on visiting again. The focus on reflection and silent action spoke to me of integrity and that you have to be clear with yourself in order to be clear with God and that for many the time before Easter is when they do that, in reflecting and in facing ones shadows, being reborn in the light.