LENT

                ASH WEDNESDAY IS FEBRUARY 25th 

      LENT BEGINS  ON ASH WEDNESDAY FOR FORTY DAYS TO EASTER. IN THE WESTERN CHURCH, WE SKIP OVER THE SUNDAYS WHEN WE COUNT THE DAYS OF LENT, BECAUSE SUNDAY IS ALWAYS THE JOYFUL CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION. THEREFORE, THE FIRST DAY OF LENT IS ALWAYS A WEDNESDAY.

      ASHES ARE A SIGN OF REMORSE, REPENTANCE AND MOURNING. TODAY SOMEONE MIGHT WEAR AN ARMBAND OR A TEAMMATE'S JERSEY NUMBER ON THEIR SLEEVE TO SIGNIFY THEY ARE IN MOURNING; BACK IN THE BIBLICAL DAYS PEOPLE PUT ASHES ON THE FOREHEADS. YOU CAN FIND BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF THIS IN 2SAM.13:19; ISA.58:5; JOB.42:6 AND JER.6:26. ASHES ARE ALSO SYMBOLIC REMINDERS OF OUR HUMAN MORTALITY AND NEED FOR GOD'S GRACE.

      ASH WEDNESDAY DERIVES ITS NAME FROM THE CEREMONIAL IMPOSITION OF ASHES ON THE FOREHEADS OF WORSHIPPERS IN A RITE THAT GOES BACK AT LEAST TO THE 10th CENTURY, AND THE FACT THAT EVERYONE WAS TO PARTICIPATE IN IT WAS ONE OF THE SIGNS THAT LENT WAS NO LONGER JUST FOR THOSE DOING FORMAL PENANCE PRIOR TO READMISSION TO THE CHURCH, BUT HAD BECOME A GENERAL ACT OF DEVOTION OBSERVED BY ALL. DURING LENT, ANCIENT CHRISTIANS MOURNED THEIR SINS AND REPENTED OF THEM, SO IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO SHOW THEIR SINCERITY BY GIVING ASHES PLACED UPON THEIR FOREHEADS. THE ANCIENT CEREMONY CONTINUES TODAY IN THE CHURCH AS A VISIBLE REMINDER OF SIN AND DEATH IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S REDEEMING GRACE.

      DURING THE ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP SERVICE, FOLLOWING THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL AND CONFESSION OF SINS, PERSONS WILL BE INVITED TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE THE ASHES ADMINISTERED ON THEIR FOREHEADS IN THE SIGN OF THE CROSS. THE COMBINATION OF WORD AND ACTED SYMBOL CAN AND SHOULD BE A SPIRITUALLY POWERFUL INAUGURATION OF THE SEASON OF LENT.

                                                                                                      design by

                                                                                                         aaron

      Mission

    Statement
-Seeking God’s purpose-
-Offering God’s love-
-Nurturing God’s world-
  

      Vision  

    Statement
We believe God has called us to reach the unchurched of our community with the good news of Jesus Christ; to equip them with a faith that works in real life; and to send them out with a purpose and a passion to serve Jesus in the world.