It's Ash Wednesday

Today marks the first day of the Lenten season. Lent is a time when many Christians prepare their hearts for Easter by focusing on repentance through prayer, fasting/sacrifice, and charitable service.

Ash Wednesday is appropriately named since during the Ash Wednesday service, the congregation receives the sign of the cross with ashes on their foreheads. These ashes are typically made from the previous year’s Palm Sunday palm branches. The blessing of the ash reminds us of the dust from which God made us and our call to repentance.