You can participate in our online service on Facebook or YouTube
Click the links to your preferred platform for viewing.
 

Dear Urbana Church Family,

We are nearing the season of Lent, a 40-day period (excluding Sunday’s) that begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17, and concludes on Easter Sunday, April 4.  Lent is a time of renewal, a time to remember Jesus—to walk with Him in study, prayer, service to others, and to engage in personal and family worship.

As Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17, we have planned an online worship experience that can include the entire family.  Worship on Ash Wednesday focuses on the themes of sin and death in the light of God’s redeeming love in Jesus Christ.

Beginning Tuesday evening, February 16, we will release our Ash Wednesday worship video on our church’s Facebook and YouTube pages.  You may tune in to watch the video at any time, but we are also invited to worship together at 7:00 PM the evening of Ash Wednesday.  For those who do not have access to the Internet, please call the church office and we’ll send a DVD version to you.
 

Now, here’s how our Ash Wednesday service will work this year:

    • FIRST, we encourage you to view the Ash Wednesday video that will lead you and whoever you invite (family, friends, neighbors) through a very simple “at home” Ash Wednesday service with worship, reflection, and teaching.
    • SECOND, enclosed with this letter is a small bag with ashes for you to prepare and use at home. To prepare your ashes for the service, empty the provided ashes into a small, shallow bowl and add a very small amount of oil (olive oil works well) until the consistency is a thick paste.  You will be prompted on when to apply the ashes during the service.
    • THIRD, when you are prompted, put a small amount of the ashes mixed with oil on one of your fingers and apply it in the shape of a cross. Don’t worry if the result is unrecognizable–in our experience, the cross shape usually comes out looking like a blob, but it’s the symbolism that counts.  Some people will want to go through the worship video (approximately 30-minutes in length) in the morning so they can wear the ashes throughout the day as a reminder of mortality, while others prefer to wash it off after application.  From our point of view, either option is fine–after all, it’s the focus of our hearts that matters.

If you have any questions about this year’s Ash Wednesday worship, feel free to contact the church office at the number listed below.  We’ll get back with you as soon as we can.

Also, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up to be a part of a Connect Group to go through the book study, Seven Words, that explores Jesus’ words from the Cross, “My God…why have you forsaken me?”  You can sign up at the church website or by using the church app.

God bless you!  And remember, in person and online worship will be available beginning Sunday, February 21 at 10:30 AM.  Hope to see you in person or online!
 

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Jim Lillibridge