ASH WEDNESDAY Feb 10, 2016

What is the first day of the season of Lent? Ash Wednesday

On this first day of Lent, many Christians go to church and share in an important ritual. The ritual involves ___________ that are made from ___________ branches. ashes palm

These ashes came from burning palm branches. When are Palms blessed and given out in church? Sunday before Easter called as __________________________. Palm Sunday Do you know what are ashes made of?

Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified.

What prayer is said as the blessed ashes are used to trace the Sign of the Cross on your forehead? Either “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel,” Or “Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return”. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. What do ashes symbolize? Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God.

What do these prayers tell us of the meaning of the ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday? Ashes are a sign of repentance and a sign of our need of God. Why do we need God? God made us and gave us the gift of life. We exist because God loves us.

Why do we need to show a sign of repentance? We sin and we need God’s forgiveness and mercy. Why do you think the priest traces the Sign of the Cross with the ashes? It reminds us that God sent us his Son to be our Savior and that we are saved through Jesus’ death on the cross.

We also thank Jesus for his LOVE and tell him how much we love him. We remember that he rose from the dead to a new life and that some day we will live with him forever in heaven.

Graded class work: Write a prayer asking God’s love and mercy in your life.