Thanks for taking a moment to come out to our Ash Wednesday reflection.

This paper will serve as a guide for your experience today. There are three main things we would like for you to do: Reflect on scripture and your relationship with God, examine your heart and actions for areas that may need repentance and God's forgiveness, and a recommitment to follow Christ. If you are interested, here is a little history behind Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. On the back of the paper is the exercises.

Ash Wednesday The traditional start of Lent in the West. The name is taken from the liturgical practice of receiving and wearing ashes on ones forehead. This devotional practice can be accurately traced back to at least the 8th Century. Ashes are a biblical symbol of repentance from Old Testament times. The church continued the use of ashes to mark those who were performing public acts of penance. Traditionally the ashes are derived from burning palm branches used during the prior years celebration of Palm/Passion Sunday. The ashes are traced on the forehead in the sign of the cross by a minister who recites one of the following prayers: Lent Lent is a period of prayer and fasting prior to Easter. The major theme of Lent is repentance. It has its roots in the practices of the early church, but the name, length, and strictness of the fast have changed over time. The idea of forty days of Lent is drawn from the biblical example of Christ fasting for forty days in the desert before beginning His public ministry. Ashes

The marking on the forehead with ash is a traditional ritual that takes place on Ash Wednesday. The ashes remind you of your own humanity and frailty. The receiving of Ashes is also a symbol of your confession, and repentance. It is also a public statement of your renewed commitment and obedience to Jesus.

Reflect:
Take a moment to reflect on the scriptures scrolling on the screen. Listen for the still small voice of God as you do. Maybe it is a thought, a word, a phrase or emotion that sticks out to you. Talk to God about it.

Repent:
Each of us have areas in our lives that fall short of what God intended. We look to Christ as the perfect example of a human life and we all have areas that we wish looked more like his character. Many times sin gets in the way of our connection with God and the full life that he has planned for us. Other times it may just be that the distractions of the world have shifted our focus. Take a moment to reflect on these 3 questions and write down at least one area as an act of confession: What areas of my life are not fully surrendered to Christ? What attitudes or behaviors? What distractions are in the way of a more vibrant life with Jesus? 1 John 1:9 (New Living Translation) 9But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. Allow God's love and forgiveness to wash over your life, renewing you and giving you power to live the life he has created you to live.

Recommit:
Typically lent is also a time of fasting, a time of doing without something that may be holding us back in our relationship with God. Jesus fasted food for 40 days leading up to his ministry. Many fast meals but there are lots of other types of fasts you can do for the next 40 days leading up to Easter.

What is one distraction that you could give up for the next 40 days? (ex. social media, a certain type of technology, food, the things you purchase or consume, an activity?) What could you replace this distraction with that would draw you closer to God? (ex. more time in prayer, reading scripture, giving or serving, reading something that draws you closer to God, visiting a friend, trying the different spiritual disciplines)

Before you leave, come forward to receive the ashes on either you forehead or hand as a symbol of your repentance and re-commitment to Jesus.