Explaining

the service, the Rev. Bob Hudak, rector of Nativity said that Ash Wednesday

marks the beginning of the season of Lent, the forty days preceding Easter.

"As early

as the eighth century, Christians on this day received a cross of ashes

on the forehead with the words: 'Remember that you are dust, and to dust

you shall return.' This mark echoes the sign of the cross made at Baptism,

which marks each as 'sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as

Christ's own forever.'"

The ashes are

made by burning the palms saved from the previous year's Palm Sunday and

are a "biblical symbol of mourning and penance."

"Both

are an appropriate part of the penitential season of Lent, which also

includes fasting and prayer. The keeping of Lent is largely a private

matter. However," Hudak added, quoting from The Book of Common Prayer,

"the cross of ashes received on Ash Wednesday is an outward and visible

sign of the inward intention to observe 'a holy Lent, by self-examination

and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and

meditating on God's holy Word.'"

The Episcopal

Church of the Nativity is located at 130 Antioch Road in Fayetteville.

It is one of 93 parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta and a member

of the worldwide Anglican Communion. For more information on the parish,

call (770) 460-6390.

Those interested

also may visit the church's web site at https://www.fayettenativity.com/ .

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