I put a lot of time into preparing our hearts for Christmas, but often I just let Easter sneak up on me. If I'm honest, I don't really know how to go from the twinkle lights of Christmas into the darkness of winter, and think ahead to spring and the celebration of resurrection. I get a little closer every year, but culturally, we aren't given a template for what this looks like, so it really feels like swimming upstream. Every year, about this time of year, sickness after round of sickness keeps hitting and I'm really tired. I had decided I was going to coast into the season leading to Easter, when I saw the title of Elyse's book pop up in my inbox. It felt like a sign to reconsider.

Last year I attended my first-ever Ash Wednesday service and shared about it. I was shocked and discouraged to have a lot of negative comments on that post. People assumed we were veering away from "normal" Christianity. So, before we get started, Elyse, can you tell us about the practice of Ash Wednesday and the faith roots, and what denominations practice it? How does this holiday help us to bridge from winter to Easter? 

I've come to really love Advent practices. Remembering who we wait for and how long Israel waited has given me a lot of peace in the brokenness of the world. What have Christians traditionally remembered and what spiritual disciplines have they attempted to cultivate between Christmas and Easter? 

One thing I love about your work is the way you always circle back to grace. How do we keep these practices from feeling legalistic? 

If shame starts to creep up... maybe we intended to celebrate differently this year, and it's just not going to happen. How does thinking of Jesus as the "friend of sinners" cover or remove that shame? 

You can find Elyse Fitzpatrick's ⁠⁠⁠⁠"Friend of Sinners"⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ or go to her website.

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Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

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