Five churches to host community Ash Wednesday service
Five Fox Valley United Methodist churches will partner in a joint Ash Wednesday service to open Lent. The service will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, at Sugar Grove UMC, 176 Main St. in Sugar Grove.
Participating churches are members of the Aurora Cluster: Flowing Forth UMC, Wesley UMC and Bethany UMC, all in Aurora; Sugar Grove UMC, Sugar Grove; and Kaneville UMC, Kaneville.
Pastors and lay people from each church will participate. Pastors reading scriptures will be the Rev. Sam Park, Bethany of Fox Valley UMC; the Rev. Avani Christian, Kaneville UMC; the Rev. Derek Rogers, Flowing Forth UMC; the Rev. Tammy Scott, Sugar Grove UMC; and the Rev. John Bell, Wesley UMC. A layperson from each church will offer a reflection.
A combined choir of vocalists from participating churches will perform "Jesus, Remember Me" and "Sunday's Palms are Wednesday's Ashes." Pastors will impose ashes and communion will be served. Fellowship and refreshments will close the service.
Rev. Scott said, "Lent is the 40-day period of repentance and renewal preceding Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and ends with the worship service on Easter.
"The word 'Lent' is derived from the old English word, 'lecten,' or 'lengthen.' It refers to the lengthening of the daylight hours that occurs as spring approaches.
"Lent is a special time for meditation and prayer, giving us time to recall the Easter story and absorb its meaning - that Christ lived and died to redeem the world from sin."
Call (630) 466-4501 for more information.