ASH WEDNESDAY

Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Associate Pastor Rev. Benjamin Rexroat and Pastor Rev. Don Geyman place ashes on the foreheads of parishioners during Ash Wednesday services in the Traverse City church. The day marks the beginning of Lent, a period of reflection, fasting and penance leading up to Easter, this year on Sunday, April 21, the day Christians believe Jesus was resurrected. "The ashes are a reminder that life on Earth is temporary," said Rev. Geyman. "And also a sign of repentance." The ashes come from palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday, which are burned and blessed before being placed on the worshiper's forehead in the shape of a cross with the words "ÒRemember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.Ó

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