ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash
Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It’s a period of
preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we
seek the Lord in prayer by reading our Bibles; we serve by giving an offering;
and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain
from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to
follow Christ’s will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which
we were also baptized into Christ’s death, died to sin and evil, and began new
life in Christ.
We are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout
the season. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God’s gifts—not
only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time
and talents.
In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as
others prepare to be baptized. To this end, we are offering a covenant service
Sunday, February 18 at the morning service, which will include communion.
This is a service designed to allow us all to rededicate our hearts and lives to
the work of our Lord.
We are also going to offer a baptism by immersion
service right after Easter for those who are seeking baptism. Lent is a
traditional time of preparation for those wishing to be baptized.
Lent will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 14 at 7 pm. We all have ashes
created from last year’s Palm Sunday branches placed on our foreheads to
help us remember the significance of the cross.