Begin Ash Wednesday with the imposition of ashes by stopping be the Grace Chapel in the Education & Administration Building from 8 AM to 9 AM and then again from Noon to 1 PM.
This tradition on the first day of the Lenten season leading to Easter has its roots in the Old Testament, a time when wearing ashes was a common sign of repentance for sins, and a sign of one’s humility before God. The ashes used to make a cross symbol on the forehead are often made from burning palm fronds from the prior year’s Palm Sunday service.
Throughout Lent our main devotional is the book “The Third Day” by Rev. Tom Berlin, Resident Bishop of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Pastor Michelle Shrader has developed a 40-Day Scripture Reading Plan to accompany the book. You can order a copy of the Bishop’s book on Amazon or wherever you purchase books, plus there are several copies available for check out in our Grace UMC Library.