“What’s with the ashes?”

NSFAQ (not so frequently asked questions) – learn more about our faith.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. During the service, palms from Palm Sunday that have been burned to create ashes, are used to mark the sign of the cross on your forehead. The act echoes and ancient Eastern tradition of throwing ashes over one’s head to signify repentance before God.

“You are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19) reminds us of our mortality. However, the sign of the cross reminds us of the hope of the resurrection. We don’t receive the sign of the cross in ashes to attract attention or to be noticed by others, but to focus on who we are as human beings, bound in death and life to Christ.

Join us on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, Mineral Point for the Ash Wednesday service.