Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and marks the beginning of Lent. Ashes were used in ancient times, according to the Bible, to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent’s way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. An ancient example of one expressing one’s penitence is found in Job. Job says to God: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. The other eye wandereth of its own accord. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

This 40 day period of repentance is also analogous to the 40 days during which Moses repented and fasted in response to the making of the golden calf.

On Wednesday, March 1st, at 7 PM you are invited to gather in the sanctuary for an Ash Wednesday Service of self-reflection and prayers of repentance. Come and join us for this special service as we place the cross of ashes upon our forehead as a sign of penitence and forgiveness.