Four Aurora-area United Methodist churches will partner in a joint Ash Wednesday service to open Lent.

The service will open at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, at Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, 2200 Ridge Ave. (Rt. 34 and Ridge) in Aurora.

The public is invited. Admission and parking are free. A freewill offering will be taken.Participating Aurora churches are Bethany UMC. Fourth Street UMC and Wesley UMC with Kaneville UMC.

Pastors and lay people from each church will participate. A combined choir of participating churches will perform “In the Shadow of the Cross” and “Out of Ashes.”​ Bethany of Fox Valley choir director Jason Dornink will direct the joint choir.​​ Ashes will be imposed and communion will be served.

The offering will benefit the Methodist church of Puerto Rico. Of 41 UMC churches in the country, 29 were damaged or destroyed. Open Methodist churches are serving areas without power and people without shelter.

Participating pastors are Rev. Sam Park, Bethany UMC; Rev. Deborah Tinsley Taylor, 4th Street UMC; Rev. John Bell, Wesley UMC; and Rev. Avani Christian, Kaneville UMC.

Laypeople selected to offer reflections are Tom Carter, 4th Street UMC; Roger Curless, Wesley UMC; Anne Dombrowski, Kaneville UMC; and Jacquee Lawrence, Bethany UMC.

​Fellowship and refreshments will close the service.​

Rev. Park said, “Lent is the 40-day period of repentance and renewal preceding Easter, April 1. Lent is a special time for meditation and prayer, giving us time to recall the Easter story. All are welcome. ”

Call (630) 851-8010 for more information.

Al Benson

Freelance Photo-Journalist

Al Benson is an Aurora-based freelance photo-journalist. He is currently an archives research specialist at Aurora University. His work has appeared in The Voice, The Daily Herald, The Beacon-News, and the Chicago Tribune.