Ash Wednesday
February 18, 2026
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Pastors, staff, and Eucharistic Visitors from Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
are available to pray with you and offer ashes in the following ways:
Worship at SOTV
Service of Holy Communion with the imposition of ashes.
Times: 12:00, 5:30, 7:00 PM
Preacher: Pastor Corey Fuhrman
Text: Isaiah 58:1-12, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Curiouser Coffee
An informal time to pray and receive ashes.
Times: 9:30 - 10:30 AM, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Eucharistic Visitors
A planned visit to the homes of our homebound members to pray and receive ashes.
To schedule a visit, contact Lynne Silva-Breen.
What is Ash Wednesday?
On Ash Wednesday we begin our 40-day journey toward Easter with a day of fasting and repentance. Marking our foreheads with dust (or ashes), we acknowledge that when we die, we will return to the earth. At the same time, the dust traces the life-giving cross marked on our foreheads at baptism.
As we enter the Lenten journey, we live in the now, challenging ourselves to be faithful to Christ, saying yes to God’s invitation to live with purpose.
A Prayer for Ash Wednesday
Let us pray: Almighty and ever-living God, you hate nothing you have made, and you forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and honest hearts, so that, truly repenting of our sins, we may receive from you full pardon and forgiveness.
Amen.