With ashes on their foreheads and forgiveness in their souls, many Peoria-area Protestant Christians joined in spirit with their Catholic brothers and sisters Wednesday to observe local Ash Wednesday services.
“We’ve been (observing) Ash Wednesday for about 15 years. It’s a very meaningful service,” said the Rev. Mary Arnold, pastor at First United Methodist Church of East Peoria.
About 40 parishioners gathered at the East Peoria church Wednesday morning to receive the ashes and communion, sing a few songs of faith and forgiveness, and also to hear a brief sermon from Arnold on going forth with forgiveness and authentic Christianity, which Arnold referred to as “doing good for an audience of One,” rather than for all the world to see.
The service was to be repeated Wednesday evening, with additional special music from the choir, to an expected larger crowd of those who were working earlier in the day, Arnold said.
Services were held Wednesday morning and evening at area Catholic churches and also at some Protestant churches. It’s a newer practice for Protestants, but one that seems to be growing in recent years.
Ash Wednesday is observed each year, 40 days before Easter, at the beginning of the Lent season. It’s a time when Christians ask forgiveness from God for transgressions and receive the sign of the cross — an up/down motion, signifying God reaching down to Mankind, and across, signifying the need for people to reach out to others — in a mix of water or oil and ashes.
The ashes are a symbol of mortality, which encourages Christians to remember man was made from and will return to dust, Arnold said.
“This is about renewing your relationship with Christ and God. Jesus always taught you can’t be mad at your neighbor and then come to the altar. You have to first make peace with your neighbor and then come to Christ,” Arnold said, adding, “Faith is so cool; it’s so freeing.”
Many of those who attended the morning service at First United Methodist are retired, including Pat and Jodi Cassady of Peoria.
Pat Cassady, 62, is a former Dunlap High School principal and Jodi Cassady, 60, is a retired East Peoria kindergarten teacher.
The couple, who have attended the East Peoria church for more than 30 years, attend Ash Wednesday services because it “gives us inspiration,” Pat Cassady said, adding, “It shows that life is good and God is great.”
Ruth Hedstrom, 84, of East Peoria also is a longtime member of the church. “Our church is going through a lot of trials right now, so many people are having problems or are ill.”
“It was especially good to be together today. We only do this (Ash Wednesday service) once a year, but this year it was especially good,” she said.
Carol Ogle, 66, of East Peoria said the service was “very spiritual” to her.
“It means a lot to be part of this,” Ogle said. “More than I can say.”
Ruth Longoria Kingsland can be reached at 686-3196 or [email protected].
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