This Wednesday (February 22) is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, the beginning of the season which leads up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Ash Wednesday has its roots in the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting and many Christians mark the day by going to church and having a mark of ashes placed on their foreheads. Here in the parish there will be a service of ashing at St Mark’s at noon, and at St John’s at 7.30pm.
The ash is made by burning palm crosses, like the ones we use at the Palm Sunday services each year, and you can receive the mark with the words:
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.”
It is a solemn reminder of our calling to follow Christ and be his body here on earth.
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 