“Ash Wednesday”

 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
   “return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

  Rend your heart
    and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
    and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:12-13

Today is Ash Wednesday. Tonight, we will gather in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm for a prayer service, during which we will off the imposition of ashes for those who would like.

In the Bible, ashes are used as a symbol of mourning. People would put ashes on their heads whenever they would mourn the loss of a loved one. People would also rend or tear their garments as a sign of mourning. Today, Christians put ashes on their heads as a sign they are mourning their sinfulness and have recommitted themselves to following the Lord.

During Lent, many followers of Jesus also fast and pray as they recommit themselves to the Lord.

Ash Wednesday is also the beginning of the season of Lent. The season of Lent is a 40-day period during which Christians prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. This Lenten season, I will be preaching a series of sermons on the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:5-15.

May the Lord bless you with His grace and peace during your Lenten journey to Easter.

In Christ,

Pastor David