Graphic created by Dr. Mario Melendez
OBU’s Division of Music will be holding an Ash Wednesday service at noon on March 5 in the Ford Chapel for students and faculty. This is just one of many worship opportunities leading up to Holy Month.
So what is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday is a Christian holiday that represents the beginning of Lent, which is an act of 40 days of repentance and fasting. This is the holiday leading up to Easter, which allows the believer to prepare through Lent. This year, Lent is 46 days long as it begins March 5th and it ends April 17 or 19th. The ending of Lent depends on each denomination and their views on the length of the holiday. When one thinks about Ash Wednesday, there is the image of one putting ash on their head in the shape of a cross. This symbol represents how humans came as dust and they will leave as dust. This is solely to represent the time that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert. When people think of fasting, they might think of strictly just food. When it comes to giving something up for Lent, that can include caffeine, shopping, complaining, fast food, etc.
The purpose is to give up something that is causing distractions keeping believers from following God’s will. Lent is a time of realizing one’s own sins and ways that repentance can play a part in the walk with God. There are also many ways that Lent can be observed. There is prayer, which could also take the form of reading the Bible as well as praising God, and fasting, which would be the idea of abstaining from luxuries or certain foods. Then there is Almsgiving which could include showing God’s gifts to one’s neighbor who may be struggling–truly taking care of your neighbor. Finally, there is self denial, which would embody taking up one’s cross daily.. The whole idea of Lent is realizing that the world is not a believer’s forever home, and all still have a responsibility of honoring God the creator of the universe.
Many students observe Lent in many ways.
“I do practice lent,” senior nursing major Gracie Curry said. “This year I am choosing to honor God more by intentionally starting each day with prayer, rather than mindlessly scrolling on my phone to wake up. This is a bad habit I am wanting to break to become closer to God!“
And while many students are using this opportunity to limit caffeine consumption, social media engagement, or certain dietary habits, others are using this time to dive deeper into the word of God.
“I will read my Bible everyday before I get on my phone, be in constant prayer and journaling, listening to Christian podcasts and worship, and I do still practice fasting every few months!” senior communications major Chloe Burke.
In addition to the OBU service, other churches in Shawnee offer opportunities to worship.
Frontline is hosting an Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 p.m., Wesley United Methodist offers a meal and fellowship at 5:30 p.m. followed by an Ash Wednesday centered service at 6:30 p.m., St. Gregory’s Abbey hosts mass at 8:15 a.m. where ashes will be distributed per Ash Wednesday tradition, and Redeemer Lutheran Church LCMS will have Lent supper at 5:30 p.m. followed by a service at 6:30 p.m.
