ash wednesday | Services at area churches

Lent, a season of spiritual renewal, begins Ash Wednesday, which is next week. Forty days is a traditional number of discipline, devotion and preparation in the Bible. Lent also lasts for 40 days, excluding Sundays. Christ used a 40-day period of prayer and fasting to prepare for his ministry. 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).

CATHOLIC

Blessed Sacrament, 3020 Reeves Road NE, Warren: Services with ashes at 7 a.m. and noon and Masses with ashes at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Holy Name of Jesus Church, 613 N. Lakeview Ave., Youngstown: Ash Wednesday Mass at 5 p.m. and Masses at 5 p.m. March 16, 23 and 30 and April 6 and 13. Sundays, March 13, 20 and 27, and April 3, 10 and 17, there will be Stations of the Cross at 3 p.m.

Holy Rosary Church, 131 E. Wood St., Lowellville: Ash Wednesday Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Stations of the Cross with Mass, all at 6 p.m., will begin Friday and continue March 18 and 25 and April 1, 8 and 15. Masses and St. Anthony novena will be at 6 p.m. March 15 and continue through June 7.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 159 Reed Ave., Campbell: Masses with distribution of ashes at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Stations of the Cross will be at 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent.

St. Joseph the Provider Church, 633 Porter Ave., Campbell: Ash Wednesday Masses at 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross will be at 1 and 7 p.m. Fridays during Lent. A communal penance service will be at 6:15 p.m. March 28.

St. Lucy and Santa Rosa de Lima, 394 Tenney Ave., Campbell: Ash Wednesday Masses with distribution of ashes will be at 8 a.m. in English, 9 a.m. in Spanish and 7 p.m., bilingual. Stations of the Cross, on Fridays of Lent, will be at 5 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish.

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

Disciples Christian Church, 4565 Boardman-Canfield Road, Boardman: A prayer vigil is planned.

EPISCOPAL

St. James Episcopal Church, 7640 Glenwood Ave., Boardman: Ash Wednesday service at 5:30 p.m. with dramatic recitation of the first part of the Gospel of Mark by Dr. Allan Mosher of Youngstown State University followed by a Lenten soup supper. The evening will conclude with traditional Ash Wednesday service with clergy from Boardman United Methodist Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown: Services with imposition of ashes at noon and 7 p.m. Service for children and youth at 6 p.m.

Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. NE, Warren: Communion with imposition of ashes at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

LUTHERAN

Bethel Lutheran Church, 425 Crestview Drive, Boardman: Services at noon and 6:30 p.m. Lenten programs continue at noon and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays with soup suppers at 5:45. Dates are March 16, 23 and 30 and April 6 and 13.

Good Hope Lutheran Church, 98 Homestead Drive, Boardman: Ash Wednesday services at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on “The Movement of Faith.” A soup supper will be at 6 p.m.

Greenford Lutheran Church, 7450 W. South Range Road, Greenford: Ash Wednesday and Holy Communion service at 7 p.m. Services will be at 7 p.m. Wednesdays of Lent.

Historic Lutheran Church of St. John, 1429 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown: Imposition of ashes and Holy Eucharist at noon and 7 p.m.

Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 550 N. Broad St., Canfield: Services will be at noon and 7 p.m. with imposition of ashes. A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Tuesdays of Lent.

Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmount Drive, Youngstown: Worship with imposition of ashes at noon and 7 p.m. with soup lunch after the noon service. Other services will be at noon March 16, 23 and 30 and April 6 and 13. Soup lunches will follow.

Mount Moriah Lutheran Church, 4626 S. Pricetown Road, Berlin Center: Liturgical service with imposition of ashes at 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday.

Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2985 Center Road, Poland: Ash Wednesday imposition of ashes and Holy Communion at noon and 7 p.m. Soup supper at 6 p.m. Wednesdays of Lent followed by worship.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 490 N. High St., Cortland: Ash Wednesday service at 7 a.m.

Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2305 S. Canfield-Niles Road, Austintown: Ash Wednesday dinner at 6 p.m. and worship service with communion at 7. The same schedule will be March 16, 23 and 30 and April 6 and 13.

St. John Lutheran Church, 5734 Mahoning Ave., NW, Warren: Ash Wednesday service at noon.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 56 N. Chestnut St., Niles: Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.

METHODIST

Girard First United Methodist Church, 22 N. Market St., Girard: The Methodist church and Girard First Baptist Church will have a combined service at 7 p.m.

OTHER

Central Christian Church, 2051 E. Market St., Warren: Ash Wednesday service at 7 p.m.

PRESBYTERIAN

First Presbyterian Church, 3654 N. Main St., Mineral Ridge: Imposition of ashes at 7 p.m. On Wednesdays during Lent, there will be a dinner at 6 p.m. followed by worship at 7.