Today marks the beginning of the Lenten journey which begins our forty-day journey toward Easter with a day of fasting and repentance. Marking our foreheads with dust, we acknowledge that we die and return to the earth. At the same time, the dust traces the life-giving cross indelibly marked on our foreheads at baptism. While we journey through Lent to return to God, we have already been reconciled to God through Christ. We humbly pray for God to make our hearts clean while we rejoice that “now is the day of salvation.” Returning to our baptismal call, we more intentionally bear the fruits of mercy and justice in the world.

All Saints Lutheran Church we will gather for a meal at 5:30 pm in the gathering space. We will then move into the sanctuary for the Ash Wednesday Worship Service which will use the Holden Evening Prayer and incorporate the Distribution of Ashes as well as Holy Communion.