Happy Ash Wednesday!!
Since I was a wee one, I've always been in church and heard about Ash Wednesday and Lent in reference to Easter. But what exactly is the meaning of the two days and why are they so significant? What I know is this:
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, canonized, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, which lasts 46 days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance.
To learn more about this event that occurs every year for Easter, I am doing a Lenten study at my church, Northland Church of Longwood, FL, with Justin's mom. I am really excited because we are using a book written by an Asbury graduate. If you don't know where Asbury is, it is located 20 minutes from my old stomping groung in Wilmore, KY. I was excited to hear someone from my neck of the woods would be helping with an event in my new church. I will keep you updated on how things are going and what I'm learning. This is the book we will be using and it is posted on the church website. If you would like to do the study with us, please join in online!
Click here for the link to the church website: Northland Church
Have a great day!
Since I was a wee one, I've always been in church and heard about Ash Wednesday and Lent in reference to Easter. But what exactly is the meaning of the two days and why are they so significant? What I know is this:
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. The ancient church that wrote, collected, canonized, and propagated the New Testament also observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, which lasts 46 days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance.
To learn more about this event that occurs every year for Easter, I am doing a Lenten study at my church, Northland Church of Longwood, FL, with Justin's mom. I am really excited because we are using a book written by an Asbury graduate. If you don't know where Asbury is, it is located 20 minutes from my old stomping groung in Wilmore, KY. I was excited to hear someone from my neck of the woods would be helping with an event in my new church. I will keep you updated on how things are going and what I'm learning. This is the book we will be using and it is posted on the church website. If you would like to do the study with us, please join in online!
Click here for the link to the church website: Northland Church
Have a great day!
Hi Meagan! Thanks so much for the blog love, and for becoming a follower! So nice to meet you! :)
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