This year, churches in the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership—of which Bethany is a member—will return to holding a live, in-person Ash Wednesday service.
It’s happening Wednesday, February 22, starting 7 p.m., at the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church, 6929 Franklin Blvd. (about 2.5 miles southeast of Bethany).
Preaching at this year’s community-wide Ash Wednesday service will be the Rev Bobby Jones of Florin United Methodist Church.
If you are watching from home, please have ashes (or water) available to make the sign of the cross on your forehead or on your hand when that part of the service arrives,
Ash Wednesday begins the time of Lent—the period leading up to Easter. Ash Wednesday is considered day of mourning for our sin and the sin of all humanity before God … a recognition of our mortality save for the grace of God … and a request that the Lord remember our creation and breathe new life into our burned-out, dusty lives once more.
An Ash Wednesday tradition is to have ashes imposed (placed)) on our foreheads in reminder this rebirth and the journey we take each year with Christ through the desolation, sadness and grief—and eventually the triumphant joy of Easter and resurrection.
An offering will be taken to benefit the SSIP Food Closet; you can give online at Give — SSIP Food Closet.
You can watch the service via YouTube.
