The Lenten Season:Ash Wednesday hails the start of Easter preparation

In commemoration of the beginning of the Christian penitential season of Lent, Ash Wednesday services at Grace Lutheran Church will be conducted at 12:15 and 7 p.m. Wednesday with Holy Communion served at both. Since Lent retains its ancient penitential character, the faithful are reminded to make the entire Lenten season a period of special observance through the three practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The Fourteen Stations of the Cross (Way of the Cross) stand in remembrance of the Passion of Christ and representations of incidents connected with it.

The Ash Wednesday fish fry will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m.at the Knights of Columbus, sponsored by the Men’s Prayer Group.

Each Friday after the Stations, the congregation will move to McMullan Hall to share a simple meal of soup and bread or partake of a Lenten fish dinner prepared by the Knights of Columbus.

Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is the feast day immediately before Ash Wednesday which marks the start of the 40 days of Lent that lead up to Easter.

The Rev. Matt Boulter, assistant rector for evangelism at Christ Church, said the idea is that through Lent, people can enter more deeply into the life of Christ and participate in the story of Jesus. McKevitt said once this note touches flame, they will immediately disappear.

“Refraining from eating and drinking is a powerful reminder of the feelings of those among us who do not have enough to eat”, she said. “That something that we thought was weighty had no substance at all”.

Ash Wednesday services will be held at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. February 10 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 400 Ninth St. W.

“There’s nothing more personal in our lives than mealtime”, said the Rev. John David Ramsey of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Newport News. Though every luncheon will be held at 11:45 a.m., Wednesdays, at Trinity Church through the Lenten season, churches within the Mason County Ministerial Association will alternate being responsible for the meal, and message, each week. What if we intentionally did something instead of intentionally not doing something?

Holloman said he has given up fast food and soda pop in the past in order to be more healthy. It is not required that they give up something, but it is encouraged.

“I encourage people to reflect on who they are in relationship with God and those around them”, Holloman said.

In ancient times, many gave tzedakah, or charity, on the eve of a fast day, a tradition Dror would like to see revived. “We are just part of it and not necessary the center of that”.