LEARN | Ashes + Lent
Ashes and Lent: What’s This All About?
If you've ever driven past a church, walked through the store, or sat in a restaurant, in late Winter on a random Wednesday, and seen people walking around with dark smudges on their foreheads (usually in the shape of a cross), you've witnessed Ash Wednesday. And if you've ever wondered what that was all about—or felt a little confused when friends suddenly gave up binging their favorite show, happy hour, chocolate, or started talking about "observing Lent"—this post is for you.
At Downtown Church, we don't want to assume everyone knows the rhythms, reasonings, and rituals of the Christian calendar. So, let me explain what's happening, why it matters, and how you might engage with this ancient practice meaningfully.
What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday (this year on February 18) marks the beginning of Lent. It's a day when Christians traditionally receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross—a visible, tangible reminder of our mortality and our need for God.
The ashes come with words that might sound pretty harsh at first: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." It's taken from Genesis 3:19, and it's meant to be sobering, even humbling.
As unsettling as these words appear, here's what I love about this practice: it's deeply honest.
We live in a culture that encourages us to avoid thinking about death, aging, and our limitations. Ash Wednesday invites us to do the opposite—to acknowledge our humanity, our fragility, our sin, our brokenness, and our mortality. In that acknowledgment, we find an invitation to turn back toward God.
The technical word for this invitation is to "repent," which simply means to turn around, change direction. Stop walking away from God and start walking toward God. The good news is that God has already turned toward us in Jesus, and our repentance is simply responding to that grace.
And What About Lent?
Lent is the 40-day season (not counting Sundays) that stretches from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Historically, it's a time of preparation, reflection, and spiritual discipline.
Many people "give something up" for Lent—coffee, social media, dessert—as a way of creating space to be attuned to God. Others take something on—a daily prayer practice, acts of service, or intentional study.
It’s important to note that Lent isn't about proving how strong, disciplined, or spiritual we are. It's about slowing down. It’s about noticing where we've drifted from God. It’s about asking hard questions like:
What have I been avoiding?
Where have I become distant from what matters most?
Where have I been complicit in harm?
What needs to change in my heart?
Where has my spirit dulled?
Let’s imagine Lent as a 40-day journey of coming home to ourselves and to God.
This Year's Theme: "Give 'em Good News"
This Lenten season, we're walking through the Gospel of Mark together—watching how Jesus confronts evil in all its forms—spiritual and systemic. And, this is not an effort of pointing at others - we’ll explore the evil that hides in our own hearts and even in our own good intentions.
I know this sounds heavy, even uncomfortable. But here's what makes it good news:
Jesus doesn't confront evil from a distance. He steps into the mess. He touches the untouchable. He challenges the powerful. He frees the bound. And ultimately, he defeats evil not through violence or force, but through his sacrifice on the cross and the life of the resurrection.
Yes, there it is - there’s the good news we need.
How Can You Participate?
Come to the Ash Wednesday Worship on February 18 at 6 pm at Central Energy (2030 Gregg St. Columbia, SC 29201) and receive the ashes. Let yourself be reminded that you're human, you're loved, and you're invited to turn back toward God.
Read the Gospel of Mark with us. We're inviting the whole congregation to read through Mark during Lent.
Join the Sunday sermon series as we explore how Jesus confronts evil and what that means for us today.
Come to the Thursday morning dialogues, 7:00 am at Central Energy, where we'll create space for honest, courageous conversation about evil, complicity, and the path toward healing.
We don't have to have it all figured out. We don't need to be experts in theology or the Bible. We just need to show up with curiosity and an open heart.
You're Welcome Here
Whether you've been part of a church your whole life or you're just curious about what all this means, you're welcome.
Whether you're certain of your faith or full of doubts, you're welcome.
Whether you come with ashes on your forehead or just questions in your heart, you're welcome.
Lent is an invitation to be honest—about our limits, our struggles, and our longing for something more.
So this year, let's not pretend we have it all together. Let's acknowledge the dust. Let's name the evil. And let's walk together toward the good news of Easter.
— Pastor Charles Weathers