Different branches of Christianity observed Ash Wednesday Feb. 25 ? just not all in the same way.
The holy day marks the beginning of the Lenten season, where Christians remember the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, culminating with Easter Sunday on April 11.
Parishioners at St. Anne Catholic Church in Ortonville and St. Mark Catholic Church in Atlas Township, along with Catholics worldwide, marked Ash Wednesday by having ashes placed on their foreheads as a sign of remorse for their sins.
According to a Lenten pamphlet written by Bishop Ken Untener of the Diocese of Saginaw, the use of ashes as a sign of penance was rooted in Jewish tradition, and carried over into Christianity. The custom of placing ashes on the forehead became universal in the 11th century.
After the Protestant Reformation, most Protestant churches did away with this custom. However, the pamphlet further states in recent decades, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist and Episcopal churches have reinstated the use of ashes.
Although Lake Louise Church of the Nazarene in Ortonville did not hold any specific Ash Wednesday services, Pastor Dave Gerber said he and several others attended the movie ‘The Passion of the Christ,? based on the last 12 hours of Jesus? life, on Ash Wednesday.
In addition, Gerber said Lake Louise, along with several other local churches ? Ortonville United Methodist Church, Seymour Lake United Methodist Church, Prince of Peace Lutheran, Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, and St. Anne ? are holding community Lenten services each Thursday during Lent, beginning on March 4.
Gerber said the services feature about a half-hour of singing as well as a devotional or message. ‘We get together to celebrate the things we have in common,? he said. ‘It’s a great time of fellowship.?
The weekly services culminate with a Good Friday service April 9 at St. Anne, Gerber said.