The Gathering invites everyone to attend Ash

Ash Wednesday serves as the official opening of the Lent season. (photo by FBenjr123 on wiki media)

The Gathering Church of St. Louis is inviting everyone to attend their Ash Wednesday service on March 2, 2022, from 9-10 a.m., in their McCausland Site.

The Gathering Church has set up an event on their official Facebook page regarding their Ash Wednesday service on March 2 as the official start of their Lent season.

Also mentioned on the same website is that Childcare will be available for children through age 5, is able to allow parents to participate in this program.

Importance of Ash Wednesday

According to Givens in his article about Ash Wednesday on the official website of Christianity.com, Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent every year. Ash Wednesday will be on March 2 in 2022. On Ash Wednesday, the Christian's heart is focused on repentance and prayer, often via personal and communal confession.

In the same article, it is also stated that The priest or pastor will generally offer a sermon that is penitential and introspective in tone during Mass (for Catholics) or worship service (for Christians). The ambiance is somber; many services may include extended periods of silence, and worshipers will frequently depart in quiet.

A response chapter of Scripture, as mentioned on the same website, it is generally based on confession, is frequently read aloud concerning the leader and congregation. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in collective confession as well as periods when they will be invited to discreetly confess sins and pray.

Referring to the same article, following this, the assembly will be invited to receive ashes on their foreheads. The priest or pastor will usually dip his finger into the ashes, distribute them in a cross pattern on the brow, and remark, "From dust, you came, and from dust, you shall return."

According to the same article, this holiday's ashes represent two things in particular: death and repentance. With this attention to their own mortality and sins, Christians may start Lent gravely, while simultaneously looking forward to Easter and Christ's final victory over sin and death with more expectation and pleasure.

It is also mentioned on the same website, many churches prepare the ashes by burning palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday. On Palm Sunday, churches bless and distribute palm branches to guests, a reference to the Gospel story of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, in which crowds laid palm branches on his route.

The Gathering Church of St. Louis

The Gathering United Methodist Church, according to its official Facebook page, is developing a Christian community that appeals to new generations of St. Louis citizens. The Gathering strives to create a compelling Christian community in St. Louis for future generations.

According to their website, Matt Miofsky founded The Gathering in 2006 with the idea that the church might be different.

In keeping with this, it is also stated on the same website that Pastor Matt is the Lead Pastor of The Gathering in St. Louis. Matt founded The Gathering in 2006, and it has since grown into a successful multi-site congregation with three locations across St. Louis and an active online presence.