ASH WEDNESDAY \ Services in the area

Lent, a season of spiritual renewal, begins Ash Wednesday, which is Feb. 6. Christ used a 40-day period of prayer and fasting to prepare for his ministry, which culminated in his death on the cross and resurrection. Christians imitate Christ with a 40-day period of prayer and fasting to prepare for the celebration of his ministry’s climax, Good Friday (the day of crucifixion) and Easter Sunday (the day of resurrection). Forty days is a traditional number of discipline, devotion and preparation in the Bible. Lent also lasts for 40 days, excluding Sundays. This is list of Ash Wednesday services, with imposition of ashes, in the area.

Bessemer Presbyterian Church, 29 N. Main St., Bessemer: Worship and communion service at 7 p.m. with guest speaker, the Rev. David Lingle, interim pastor at Bethel Presbyterian Church.

Blessed Sacrament Church, 3020 Reeves Road N.E., Warren: Service of the word and imposition of ashes at 7 a.m. and noon and Masses with ashes at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Calvary United Methodist Church, 12062 South Ave., North Lima: Service with imposition of ashes at 7 p.m.

Church Hill United Methodist Church, 189 Church Hill-Hubbard Road, Liberty: Personal meditation time from 6 to 7 p.m. with imposition of ashes.

Disciples Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 565 Boardman-Canfield Road, Youngstown: Soup and bread dinner at 6 p.m. followed by worship service at 7.

First Presbyterian Church, 3654 Main St., Mineral Ridge: Service at 7 p.m. with imposition of ashes and celebration of Lord’s supper. A fish dinner will be held at 6 before the service begins.

First Presbyterian Church, 201 Wick Ave., Youngstown: Covered dish dinner at 6 p.m. followed by vesper service at 6:45.

First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Park Ave., Warren: Combined church service at 7 p.m. involves the host church, Grace United Methodist Church, Tod Avenue United Methodist Church and Grace African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Girard First United Methodist Church, 22 N. Market St., Girard: Music, imposition of ashes and Holy Communion at 7 p.m.

Good Hope Lutheran Church, 98 Homestead Drive, Boardman: Worship at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Jerusalem Lutheran Church, 415 S Main St., Columbiana: Imposition of ashes from 8 to 9 am. and service with Holy Communion and ashes at 7 p.m.

Liberty Presbyterian Church, 1451 Churchill-Hubbard Road, Youngstown: Reflective service at 7 p.m. with ashes.

Mahoning United Methodist Church, 2214 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown: Dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by worship at 7:30 at tables in fellowship hall. Communion will be available and ashes.

Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmount Drive, Youngstown: Worship and imposition of ashes at noon followed by a soup lunch and 7 p.m. worship and ashes.

Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 291 Scoville Drive, Vienna: Ashes will be distributed before the 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Masses.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 3755 S. Raccoon Road, Canfield: Eucharist and imposition of ashes at noon.

St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 124 Keystone St., Campbell: Mass with distribution of ashes at 8:30 a.m.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 159 Reed Ave., Campbell: Mass with distribution of ashes at 8 a.m.

St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 1346 Vernon N.W., Warren: Ashes only at 8:30 a.m. and Mass with ashes at 5:30 p.m.

St. Joseph the Provider Church, 633 Porter Ave., Campbell: Masses with distribution of ashes at 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 348 Robbins Ave., Niles: Eucharist and imposition of ashes at 7 p.m.

St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church, 1555 S. Meridian Road, Youngstown: The church will begin Lent in the Eastern Maronite tradition on Ash Monday, Feb. 4, with distribution of ashes at during liturgies at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. At noon, ashes will be distributed with no liturgy. At 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent, traditional Maronite prayers around the cross will be offered.

St. Matthias Church, 915 Cornell St., Youngstown: Masses with imposition of ashes at 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Stations of the Cross will be at 7 p.m. Fridays.

St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oak Hill Ave., Youngstown: Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. with imposition of ashes.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 119 Stadium Drive, Youngstown: Services at 4 and 7 p.m.

Zion Lutheran Church, 3300 Canfield Road, Youngstown: Services at 12:15 and 8 p.m. with Holy Communion and ashes.