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For many worshipers in the Christian faith, Ash Wednesday is a day of significance that means Easter is coming soon.
Many Christian denominations celebrate the day with a service, some churches choose not to mark the day. Either way, the houses of worship that choose to mark the day invite all to attend.
According to Rev. Canon Ken Wagner-Pizza, the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, 844 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, Ash Wednesday falls 40 days before Easter (minus the Sundays). This year, Easter will be celebrated on April 12 -- slating Ash Wednesday for this week.
Wagner-Pizza said Trinity Episcopal will offer two services that day, one at noon and another 7 p.m.
"Ash Wednesday is also the first day of Lent," Wagner-Pizza said. "It is a time of self examination and repentance and focus on fasting and self-denial and this is done by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word."
Wagner-Pizza said that for this time of "reflection and meditation" the church will use Matthew 6, in the Bible, as the text to guide. It discusses the need to "enter in thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret." Doing so prevents the repentant from engaging in the hypocritical loud prayers "in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men" as is said in the King James Version.
"The personal confession allows us to refocus on what God wants. By giving up something (self-denial), it allows us to clear away (the extra) and engage in more prayer time and service time to God," Wagner-Pizza said.
Wagner-Pizza said he is aware the other denominations do not focus on Ash Wednesday. However, he said even if a person does worship at another church, they are welcomed for either of the Feb. 26th services.
Keeping with an open door policy for Ash Wednesday, Pastor Mark Brumbach of the South Williamsport United Methodist Church, 409 Main St., has encouraged non-Ash Wednesday practitioners to visit the church during their services, which will be held at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.
"What you will hear me say at South Church is, if they do not want ashes, they can simply remain in their seat," Brumbach said.
He said the important aspect of Ash Wednesday is to focus on the mortality of life, but to expect renewal.
"It says in the Scriptures that the creation will declare the glory of the Lord," Brumbach said. "The (winter) season is marked by death, like the trees are dead and the grass is brown, and this is followed by the Resurrection and Springtime. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent and we are reminded of our mortality and the need for a Savior."
Like Wagner-Pizza, he said that Ash Wednesday compels the believer into fasting and sacrificing. An example that was discussed was giving up chocolate or the half hour dedicated to social media could be spent writing in encouraging notes.
"I would encourage our people to give up soda or chocolate for 40 days or even give up Facebook. Use that time to visit and connect with people that do not have a connection because some people are shut in," Brumbach said.
The ashes used during the service are made from the burning of the palm fronds from last year's Palm Sunday service. Wagner-Pizza said this is where parishioners at Trinity Episcopal get their ashes too.
While both Trinity Episcopal and South Williamsport Methodist will hold special services, Father Brian Van Fossen, of the Saint Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Parish, said his church holds mass every day, but with Ash Wednesday, the focus begins to shift.
"We offer the holy sacrifice of the mass everyday and it's done in two parts," Van Fossen said. "First is the liturgy of the Word which consists of a sermon and the reading of the Word from the Old Testament and the New Testament. Second, we always celebrate the liturgy of the Eucharist and Ash Wednesday is when things ramp down."
He said that the Ash Wednesday service at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, which is located at 711 W. Edwin St. in Williamsport, is similar to the weekday mass, but with the use of ashes.
"We have ashes during morning prayer and at night and we have opportunities for the placement of ashes as a sign of repentance," Van Fossen said.
He explained there is less singing and less use of the instruments. The services are very simplified.
He explained that Ash Wednesday is connected with the 40 days that Jesus was in the desert where Jesus fasted and was tempted by the Devil. He said the 40 day event is a time of repentance and preparation.
"We enter into repentance as sinners who have been given such a great Savior but have chosen at times not to follow Him. This gives us time to reflect," Van Fossen said,
He explained the goal is not to "preach Christ crucified with eloquence but with our lives." The 40 days of Lent, that begins with Ash Wednesday, is a time of fasting, but the goal is develop a deeper connection with a Higher Power.
"Say I fast from the internet and social media, how do I use that time? Maybe use it as a time to pray or talk to God. We can use it as a time to ask God where does He want me to go? How do I grow in a deeper relationship with Him?" Van Fossen said.
He pointed to the "greatest commandment" in the Bible, which, paraphrased, is to love God with your heart, soul and mind.
"In our world today, I don't think people take the time to be with God," he said. He explained that by connecting with God on that first commandment, it's easier for the Christian to follow the second great commandment "love your neighbor as yourself and eventually the God-follower will learn to love themselves."
Van Fossen said everyone is invited to attend any of the St. Joseph the Worker's Ash Wednesday services which are at 8 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
As for those that attend or do not, Brumbach said the point of the season is to connect with God and each other.
"As Christians, we have more in common than in contrast," he said.