Ash Wednesday begins the season of the Church Year known as Lent, which begins forty days prior to Easter and is characterized by a focus on repentance, fasting, prayer, and the needs of others.

Ash Wednesday signifies a time to turn around, to change directions, to repent. This first day of Lent reminds us that unless we are willing to die to our old selves, we cannot be raised to new life with Christ.

As the first step in the Lenten journey the Ash Wednesday service invites us to acknowledge our mortality, our sinfulness and our dependence upon the grace of God. We set aside time to reflect on Jesus—His suffering and His sacrifice, His life, death, burial and resurrection.

Worshipers will be invited to receive the imposition of ashes — remains of Palm Sunday palms placed in the sign of a cross on the forehead or back of the hand. During the imposition of ashes the words: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19) are repeated again and again.