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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of reflection and preparation that has been observed by Christians for over a thousand years. Since the early Middle Ages, believers have gathered on this day to receive ashes on their foreheads, in the shape of a cross, while hearing the words from Genesis: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.”
This practice draws from biblical examples of repentance, such as Job sitting in ashes, the people of Nineveh wearing sackcloth, and Daniel’s heartfelt confession. It serves as a reminder of human fragility, sinfulness, and mortality, inviting us to approach God with humility and openness to His mercy.
Yet the ashes carry a deeper message of hope. They are not merely a symbol of judgment or despair but a sign of God’s grace entering our brokenness. Placed in the form of a cross, they point to Jesus, who meets us in our dust and begins the work of restoration. On Ash Wednesday, we acknowledge our need for Him—not to earn His favor through displays of sorrow, but to create space for the transformation only He can bring.
This year, our Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday, February 18, at 6:30 p.m. will launch the Lenten series “Ashes to Ashes.” Drawing from Hebrews 12 and other Scriptures, the series traces a journey from God’s refining discipline and honest confession (Daniel 9), through remembrance in dark times, (Psalm 77) and trust in God’s care (Psalm 121), to restoration (Joel 2), new life (Ephesians 2), and the triumph of the wounded King on Palm Sunday (John 12). Each week builds toward celebrating Christ’s sacrifice and victory.
You are invited to join us for a service of worship, Scripture, prayer, and the imposition of ashes for those who wish to receive it. Whether you feel close to God or distant, confident or weary, this evening offers a gentle starting point for the Lenten journey. Bring a friend, come as you are, and let us begin together, trusting the God who knows our dust and calls us to new life.