Ash Wednesday brings prayer, reflection for Brevard worshippers

Ash Wednesday is generally not part of Baptist and Anabaptist churches, however, as the denominations do not typically participate in Lent.

To buttress the importance of prayers, he quoted 2Chronicles 7:14, which says “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways”. The ashes are then placed on the foreheads of participants in the shape of a cross while saying the words “Repent and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return”.

In Port Harcourt, some Catholic faithful after the Ash Wednesday Mass have pledged to use Lenten period to pray for the nation. The proceeds help fund church missions locally and worldwide, including the Wiley House women’s shelter, Alcohol Anonymous, Young Life and Comprehensive Mental Health programs.

“You have to fast to identify with a person who doesn’t have too much to eat”, Mercurio said.

Lent is the run-up to Easter and is meant to be a time of reflection, prayer and fasting.

Rio Carnival is a five day celebration filled with music, Samba, elaborate costumes and celebration, starting five days before Ash Wednesday and ending on Shrove Tuesday, or “fat Tuesday” as it is known outside of the UK. In 2014, 88 percent of people surveyed by faith-focused research firm Barna Group said they would give up some form of food. “It’s an effort to meet people where they are”, Hitch said.

“The 40 days is how he prepared and that’s how we prepare”, Landrum said.

In the Catholic Church, Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter Sunday.

“Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season, but for some there is no time in the work week for a worship service”, said the Rev. Jana Purkis-Brash, senior pastor of Princeton United Methodist Church.

Seay said he’s held the philosophy about Lent for a while.

Starting this Ash Wednesday, it is expected that such individuals will reflect on His life, death and resurrection.

“I’ve always kind of preached that”, he said.

While the Church of England has no fixed rules on how to approach the fasting of Lent, other areas of the Christian religion do.

From 11 a.m.to noon, the public may come by, or drive into the parking lot of the Visitor’s Center on the corner of Hudson Street and Broadway Street to receive ashes and communion.