Ash Wednesday Service

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Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty days to prepare for His ministry. It was for Him a time of contemplation, reflection, and preparation. By observing Lent, most Christians join Jesus on His retreat. Lent consists of the forty days before Easter, not counting Sundays, because they are always the joyful celebration of the Resurrection. Therefore, the first day of Lent is always a Wednesday.

In ancient times, people marked times of fasting, prayer, repentance, and remorse by placing ashes on their foreheads, as in 2 Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:1-3, Job 42:6, and Jeremiah 6:26. This scriptural custom entered the church from Judaism, and it is most appropriate on Ash Wednesday, when we begin a period of sober reflection, self-examination, and spiritual redirection. Traditionally, the ashes for the Ash Wednesday service come from burning the palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebration. I hope to see each of you at this service of worship.

We will have an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 17, 2010. This service will begin at 7:00, come and invite a friend.

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