Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is all about preparing for the celebration of Christ's resurrection through fasting, prayer, and generosity.

Throughout the Old Testament, ashes are used as a sign of sorrow and repentance, and Christians have traditionally used ashes to indicate sorrow for our own sin and as a reminder that the sin always leads to death.

But while we are marked with ashes, that marking takes the form of the cross, reminding us of the life we share in Jesus Christ. Therefore the ashes of Ash Wednesday call on us to hold in tandem the weight of our sin and the glory of our redemption. It is in this sure hope that we begin the journey of the 40 days of Lent, that by hearing and answering our Savior's call to repent, we may enter fully into the joyful celebration of his resurrection at Easter.

We welcome you all to join us at Redeemer Anglican Church for this service that has so powerfully worked in the Christian community for thousands of years.