Ash Wednesday Feb 14th 2024 - St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran, Howards Grove, WI

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. The liturgical color for Ash Wednesday is black, a color which calls to mind mourning, death, and dust. The wages of sin is death. From dust the first human was formed, and to dust we return because of sin. Some Christians even apply ashes to their body on this day as a solemn reminder of sin's wages. Although the overall tone of Ash Wednesday is one of mourning and repentance, Christians also approach the season of Lent by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. As followers of our crucified Savior, we are called to crucify the sinful flesh with its passions and desires. We seek to give up sin, not only during Lent but throughout the year, in thanks to the one who gave us everything in Christ Jesus our Lord. Our service theme: Now is the Time for Repentance. Our sermon is from Matthew 26.