MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Rev. Alfred Jones and the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church family invite the public to join in the church’s observance of Ash Wednesday at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14.

The theme will be “Journey to the Cross.”

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. Lent is a period of preparation and focuses on ashes, fasting, and repentance. In tradition, many Christians begin their 40-day journey by coming to church on Ash Wednesday for a service of penitence. During the service, the minister draws the sign of the cross on worshipers’ foreheads as a sign of humility to God.  

Many centuries ago, the Christian church set Lent as the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, excluding Sundays. Sundays are holy celebrations of Jesus’ resurrection, and are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent.

Today, Lent is marked for a time of prayer and preparation as Christians examine their hearts and think about their behavior and their relationships with one another and with God. “It gives way to our need to purge ourselves to grow closer to God through prayer, scripture, and self-denial,” the church said in a press release.

The church is located at 421 Sixth Ave. N.W.