On Ash Wednesday we begin the journey that is Lent, a forty-day season before Easter (excluding Sundays). During this time, we follow the example of Jesus who was led by the Spirit to a forty-day retreat into the wilderness just before he began his public ministry. There Jesus fasted and prayed in order to learn what God was calling him to do and to build the spiritual strength and integrity to accomplish it. In the same way, we now begin a period of reflection and prayer so that we can learn what it means for us to be Christ’s followers, discover what God is calling us to do, and be graced by God to grow in spiritual strength and integrity.

On Ash Wednesday we have the opportunity to be marked by ashes. Ashes are a symbol of our humble humanity and of our tie to an earth which is finite and fractured. Yet ashes are also a symbol of cleansing and rebirth and a sign that, in Christ, we are made new. As we receive ashes, God invites us to turn toward God (which is the meaning of repentance) in order to receive from God a clean heart and a new Spirit.

Join us as we begin this journey.

A prayer labyrinth will be available Wednesday, March 6th in our Fellowship Hall from 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

We will have a simple marking of the ashes service at 7:00 p.m. in our Sanctuary