Ash Wednesday Service

Ashes are an ancient symbol. In Genesis, we read that God formed human beings out of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). After expulsion from the Garden of Eden, the first human beings are told by God, “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19 NRSV). The Hebrew word translated dust, is occasionally translated ashes elsewhere. Throughout scripture, ashes are part of rituals when people seek forgiveness and mourn their sin (see Numbers 19:9, 17; Hebrews 9:13; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21, and Luke 10:13, among others).

The imposition of ashes on the heads of Christians to mark the beginning of Lent can be traced at least to the 10th century. The he ashes are made by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday.

- Service of the Ashes at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary
- Childcare will be available during service