Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection.

Ashes are an ancient sign of penitence and from the middle ages it became the custom to begin Lent by being marked in ash with the sign of the cross. This is rooted in Scripture, where dust was sprinkled on the top of the head as a sign of mourning / lamentation / penitence
• Joshua 7: 6; 1 Samuel 1: 2; 2 Samuel 15: 32; Nehemiah 9: 1; Job 2: 2;
Lamentations 2: 10; Ezekiel 27: 30; Revelation 18: 19

When we come forward to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, we are saying that we are sorry for our sins and that we want to use the season of Lent to correct our faults, purify our hearts, control our desires, and grow in holiness so we will be prepared to celebrate Easter with great joy.