Come join us at Journey Community Church for our Ash Wednesday Service on March 5, 2025!!

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, repentance, and spiritual preparation leading up to Easter. Traditionally observed by Catholics and now embraced by several Protestant denominations, Ash Wednesday serves as a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for repentance.

During Ash Wednesday services, a priest or minister applies ashes in the shape of a cross on the foreheads of worshippers, often while reciting the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). The ashes, typically made from the burned palm branches of the previous year’s Palm Sunday, symbolize grief over sin, humility before God, and the hope found in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

Ash Wednesday also sets the stage for Lent, a season reflecting on Jesus' 40-day fast and temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). The day before, known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, is often a time of feasting before the fasting and discipline of Lent begin. Many cultures celebrate with indulgent foods like pancakes or pastries as a final moment of enjoyment before the season of reflection and self-denial.

When is Ash Wednesday?

For 2025, Ash Wednesday will be observed on March 5.

Ash Wednesday falls 46 days before Easter Sunday, marking the official start of Lent. Since Easter follows the lunar calendar rather than a fixed date, Ash Wednesday’s date changes each year. It always takes place on a Wednesday, but the specific date shifts between February 4 and March 10 depending on when Easter is celebrated that year.