Devotions

Ash Wednesday, 2026 Today many churches mark the start of Lent. They put ashes on people's foreheads in the shape of a cross. They say: "Remember you are dust, and to dust you will return." Not everyone does this. Some Christians don't celebrate Lent at all. Some people find the ashes too much. Maybe it feels too busy, too public, or just not right for them. If Ash Wednesday feels like too much for you — that's okay. You don't need ashes on your forehead to know God loves you. But whether you do this today or not, there's something old and beautiful in this tradition. It's about being dust and being loved at the same time. The Tau Mark:   God Saves His People Long ago in the Old Testament, God showed the prophet Ezekiel a vision. Bad things were coming to Jerusalem. But before anything bad happened, God told an angel to do something important: Ezekiel 9:4 (Easy English Bible): "Go through Jerusalem city. Go among the people. Make a mar...

For those from Reformed, Anabaptist, or Quaker backgrounds, the "Sign of the Cross" often feels like something belonging to "someone else’s" church. We are people of the Word, the Spirit, and the Inner Light. Yet, there is a deep, historical hunger to involve the body in our devotion—to find a "physical Amen" for our faith. ​Beyond its historical roots, the Sign of the Cross serves as a powerful form of non-verbal communication . In a faith that is often "word-heavy," these gestures offer a visible language that transcends literacy levels and provides a grounding, sensory experience for neurodivergent individuals (ASN) or those who find vocal prayer a challenge. ​1. The Small Cross: The Secret Sign of the Martyrs ​The absolute oldest layer of Christian ritual dates back to the 2nd century, long before there were cathedrals or complex liturgies. In the era of Roman persecution, Christians used their right thumb to trace a tiny cross on their f...