This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the season in the Christian calendar that marks the days before Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and his glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday.

On March 6th, Christians from all persuasions and traditions, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and many others, will gather to mark the commencement of this holy season of penitence with a special event - Ash Wednesday - which includes the ancient custom of ashes being placed on the foreheads of believers during the service.

Ash Wednesday emphasizes both our human mortality and our sinfulness before God. In it we remember that “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory” and that none of us are exempt from the sinful nature that all humans are born with. During the service, the minister will make the sign of the cross on the foreheads of congregants and say to each person - “Remember, from dust you came and to dust you will return.” These powerful words hearken back to the first rebellious act of humanity - Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden. This was the event that triggered a full-scale infiltration of sin into all humans from then to now.

Why ashes?

You may remember in many parts of scripture that ashes are used as an outward sign of penitence and sorrow (particular in Job, Esther, Samuel, Isaiah and Jeremiah). The ashes that are used in an Ash Wednesday service hold special significance because they are traditionally the ashes of the burned palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday service.

Ash Wednesday can be one of the most moving and powerful worship services of the Christian year.

If you’d like to participate in an Ash Wednesday service, we invite you to join us this Wednesday at 6:00pm at St. Michael's as we raise our voices in song and prayer and mark the beginning of the holy season of Lent with penitent hearts and look forward to the hope found in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.