Several Bluffton congregations will hold special Ash Wednesday services on Feb. 22. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent.

St. John's United Church of Christ will hold at service at 7 p.m. according to Rev. Carol Clements, pastor. The service will include communion and the imposition of ashes.

St. Mary's Catholic Church will observe Ash Wednesday with a Communion service with the distribution of ashes at noon and Mass with the distribution of ashes at 7 p.m., according to Sister Carol Inkrott, pastoral leader.

First United Methodist Church will hold a service of repentance and renewal at 7 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, according to Byrant Miller, pastor.

"The imposition of ashes is a central part of the service. You are invited to come forward to receive the ashes on your forehead. In Scripture, ashes serve both as a symbol of mortality and as a sign of mourning and repentance," said Miller.

Emmanuel United Church of Christ will hold a service at 7 p.m. at the church, according to Rev. Eric Rummel, pastor.

"We will have mid-week Lenten services beginning on Wednesday, Feb 29, 7 p.m. at the church. These will coontinue each Wednesday up until March 28. The services will last approximately 30 minutes. A light snack and refreshments will be served in the Fellowship Hall immediately after the service," he said.

This year's theme is: "At the Cross with Jesus: Five People Who Knew Jesus." At each service, there will be a monologue presented from the perspective of five people who were intimately acquainted with Jesus.

"From hearing the stories of those who played critical roles in Jesus' life, we are encouraged to look more closely at our own relationship with Christ and with one another," said Rev. Rummel.

There also will be an evening Good Friday service on Friday, April 6 at 7 p.m.

Bluffton Presbyterian Church will hold a 7 p.m. worship service, according to Rev. Dr. Matthew Zuehlke, pastor.

First Mennonite Church will hold an Ash Wednesday service at 8 p.m., Feb. 22, in Fellowship Hall, according to Louise Wideman, associate pastor.

English Lutheran Church's Lenten season theme is "Journey to the Cross: Getting Caught Up in the Story!" according to Rev. Kevin Mohr, pastor.

"This theme focuses on helping us discover how the story of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection intersects with our own lives and stories," he said.

Midweek services will be held each Wednesday during Lent at 7 p.m., beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22. A potluck soup supper will be
served prior to worship that evening at 6 p.m.

"The Ash Wednesday service includes Holy Communion and ends with the ritual imposition of ashes on the foreheads of worshippers as a reminder of our mortality and of our having been claimed by God's love through the cross of Christ," said Mohr.

Trinity Lutheran Church, Jenera, will hold Lenten services at 7 p.m. for six Wednesday evenings beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22 under the theme "See His Cross! Surprising Words from our Savior's Passion."

Rev. Jeff Bolwerk will deliver the message on "It's God's Plan from Beginning to End." A light supper will be served before the service starting at 5:30 p.m.