Area churches will hold Ash Wednesday services next week in lead up to Easter

Area churches are planning Ash Wednesday services next week.

The Van Buren County Ash Wednesday service, sponsored by the Cooperative Ministry, will be held at the Keosauqua United Methodist Church. A soup supper will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by the service at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

A community Ash Wednesday service is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Packwood First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Packwood.

First Augustana Lutheran Church in Lockridge will have Ash Wednesday worshhip, with Holy Communion, at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

In Fairfield, Word of Life Lutheran Church is hosting a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday and an Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

St. Mary Catholic Church will have 40 Days for Life silent prayer, noon to 1 p.m., weekdays throughout Lent beginning Ash Wednesday. Also on Ash Wednesday, the church will celebrate Mass at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. and hold a recitation of the rosary at 4:15 p.m. in the chapel.

First Presbyterian Church is having a soup supper at 6 p.m. Wednesday, followed by an Ash Wednesday service.

First Lutheran Church will observe Ash Wednesday with a 7 p.m. service and Holy Communion.

First United Methodist Church will hold an Ash Wednesday worship service at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Spiritus Christi Independent Catholic Church, which meets at the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, observes Ash Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. service.

Easter, the celebration of Jesus Christ?s resurrection, is the center of the Christian year, the pivot around which the faith revolves.

Lent, the period of preparation for Easter, is observed from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.

The 40-day Lenten period for penance, suggested by Christ?s 40 days in the desert, does not include the six Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter.

Ash Wednesday gets its name from the ancient practice of using ashes to symbolize sorrow, regret and penitence.

In the Middle Ages, ashes were used as part of the Lenten observance. Christians would kneel at the altar and as they were marked on the forehead with ashes in the sign of the cross, the words of God were chanted, ?Remember O mortal, you are dust and to dust you will return.?

Long ago, most Protestants abandoned Ash Wednesday and the use of ashes as a symbol of worship. They cited Jesus?s words, ?When you fast, do not look dismal.?

In the computation used by the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church and by Protestant churches, Easter is celebrated the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after March 20 or 21 ? the Vernal equinox, or first day of Spring. If the full moon falls on a Sunday, Easter is the next Sunday.

Easter ranges therefore, between March 22 and April 25 inclusive.

Easter is April 8 this year.