Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a time when we as Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation, and spiritual discipline.
Ash Wednesday emphasizes two themes: our sinfulness before God and our human mortality. During our Ash Wednesday services, there will be an opportunity for our ministers to lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes on our foreheads. This symbolic act is a sign of mortality and repentance to start the season of Lent and signifies purification and sorrow for our sins.
On Ash Wednesday, February 14 you are invited to join us at our Ash Wednesday Worship Services at NOON and 7:00pm. While both of these services are open to everyone, the NOON service, that will be held at the Paul J Ciener Botanical Gardens, is specifically designed as a community service where all believers from all backgrounds can come and receive ashes.
The 7:00pm Ash Wednesday service is also open and welcoming to all who would like to attend and will take place in the Sanctuary of Main Street UMC.
*Adapted from The United Methodist Book of Worship
