Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes
- Occurring
- for 1 hour
- Venue
- St James Parish Church
- Address A251 Sheldwich Faversham, ME13 0PA, United Kingdom
We mark the beginning of Lent on Wednesday (5th March) as we come together around our Lord’s table following his command to share bread and wine, His Body and His Blood. Perhaps the central sacrament of the Church. A sacrament is an occasion when we don’t just use words to commune with God but there is a physical element also. They are occasions when we can feel that we come physically into the presence of God in a very special way.
We call the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday because we are invited to wear ashes on our foreheads. As we receive these, the words, ‘Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return’ are spoken. These come from the book of Genesis (3:19) and remind us that we are mortal.
The imposition of ashes are also an ancient symbol of repentance. ‘Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ’.