Wednesday, February 17, is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Our Ash Wednesday Service will be a Communion Service with our traditional Imposition of Ashes. The history of Lent goes back to the fourth century when the Western church determined that the Lenten period of fasting and renewal should correspond to Christ’s forty-day fast, and, by counting forty days back from Easter (excluding Sundays, which remain “feast” days), arrived at the Wednesday seven weeks before Easter. At one time Lent was primarily viewed as a period during which converts prepared for baptism on Easter Sunday, but later the season became a general time of repentance and renewal for all Christians.

The aim of our Ash Wednesday worship is threefold: first, to meditate on our mortality, sinfulness, and need of a savior; second, to renew our commitment to daily repentance in all of life; and third, to remember with confidence and gratitude that Christ has conquered sin and death. Ash Wednesday worship is a witness to the power of our union with Christ and to our daily dying and rising with Christ through our Baptism.

The imposition of ashes is the central part of this worship service. Ashes have a long history in Biblical and church traditions. In Scripture ashes or dust symbolize frailty or death, sadness or mourning, judgment or repentance. All these images are reflected in our use of ashes as a symbol of Lent. In Christ’s Passion we see God’s judgment on evil; in our repentance we express sorrow for our sins; in our rededication we show that we are purified and renewed. The ashes are the burnt residue of last year’s palms from Palm Sunday.

Our Lent Midweek Services will focus on Jesus’ teachings in the “Upper Room” on Maundy Thursday.

February 17          The Way, the Truth, and the Life – John 14:1-14

February 24          The Spirit of Truth – John 14:15-30

March 3                The Vine and the Branches – John 15:1-17

March 10              The Hatred of the World – John 15:18-16:4

March 17              The Holy Spirit at Work – John 16:5-15

March 24              Grief Turned into Joy – John 16:16-33

March 31              Jesus’ Prayer for His Church – John 17:1-26

April 1                  The Upper Room on Easter Day – John 20:19-31

The Passion account will be our Scripture Reading. We will also have extended times of prayer during each service. Supper will be served before each Wednesday service (5:45pm-6:45pm).

May God grant us a blessed Lent.