Gainesville First United Methodist Church and its members gathered in observance of Ash Wednesday on the Gainesville Square Wednesday afternoon.
Church pastor Joshua Hudson told AccessWDUN that the day marks the beginning of Lent, which observes the six weeks in penitence before Easter Sunday.
“ [Ash Wednesday] is a time for us to as human beings to reflect on our mortality and to not take for granted that our time on Earth sometimes is short,” Hudson shared. “It causes us to stop and reflect and think about how are we spending our time? Are we doing things that are beneficial for what God would have us do in the world? Are we loving others and pouring out of ourselves into others?”
The practice includes marking one's forehead with the cross symbol in ashes and praying with those around them. Wednesday marked the second year the church has brought the ceremony to the square.
“I recognize that people are busy,” Hudson said. “And sometimes, your schedule may not allow for you to swing by for a service at a church, and we just wanted to make this available to folks that maybe are on their lunch break. Wearing the cross on your forehead is just a reminder for yourself really, that just a reminder to start into the season of Lent. So we just wanted to make it accessible to people who maybe their schedules don't allow for it.”
One participant shared with AccessWDUN that Ash Wednesday is important to her expression of faith.
“Probably the most important part of our Christian walk is starting the walk to the cross,” she said. and then an appreciation that Jesus rose from the dead to give us life. If I had been the only person in the world, he would have done it just for me. So, this is a special time.”
Easter Sunday falls on March 31, 2024.
