Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar, directly following Shrove Tuesday. Occurring 46 days before Easter, it is a moveable fast that can fall as early as February 4 and as late as March 10.
According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting or abstinence. Of the 46 days until Easter, six are Sundays, the Christian sabbath. Sundays are not included in the fasting period and are instead “feast” days during Lent.
Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of believers, as a celebration and reminder of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday.
Morrison, IL, residents are invited to observe the first day of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2014, during services at nine of the following 15 churches.
*Bethesda Lutheran Church, 301 W. South Street, will hold its observance at 7:00 p.m. The service offers songs by the choir, Holy Communion, and the Imposition of Ashes.
*Brethren in Christ Church, 209 E. Knox Street, does not observe Ash Wednesday.
*Christian Reformed Church, 300 W. South Street, does not observe Ash Wednesday.
*Crossroads Community Church does not observe Ash Wednesday.
*Ebenezer Reformed Church, 309 E. Park Street, does not observe Ash Wednesday.
*Emmanuel Reformed Church does not observe Ash Wednesday.
*First Baptist Church, 406 Maple Avenue, does not observe Ash Wednesday.
*First Presbyterian Church of Morrison, 100 E. Lincolnway, will hold services at 7:00 p.m., including the Imposition of Ashes, but no Holy Communion.
*Morrison Christian Church, 201 S. Genesee Street, does not observe Ash Wednesday.
*Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, will hold its observance at 7:00 p.m. The service includes songs by the choir; nailing to the cross a sin one wishes to give up; the Imposition of Ashes.
*Open Bible Fellowship, 11429 Ward Road, does not observe Ash Wednesday.
*St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, will hold Ash Wednesday services at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Ashes will be placed on foreheads, but no Holy Communion will be received, unless requested.
*St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church LCMS, 601 N. Jackson Street, will hold service at 7:00 p.m., with the Imposition of Ashes, followed by Holy Communion.
*Spring Valley Reformed Church, 10960 Spring Valley Road, does not observe Ash Wednesday.
*St. Anne’s Church, 401 N. Cherry Street, will hold three Ash Wednesday services: 7:00 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m. Each includes Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes. A soup supper follows the 6:00 service.