Baylor offers Ash Wednesday service to begin Lenten season

Rev. Msgr. Dominic Dinh Do applies ash to parishioners at Saint Maria Goretti Parish during Ash Wednesday in San Jose, California, on Wedneday, February 22, 2012. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent. MCT
Rev. Msgr. Dominic Dinh Do applies ash to parishioners at Saint Maria Goretti Parish during Ash Wednesday in San Jose, California, on Wedneday, February 22, 2012. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent.  MCT
Rev. Msgr. Dominic Dinh Do applies ash to parishioners at Saint Maria Goretti Parish during Ash Wednesday in San Jose, California, on Wedneday, February 22, 2012. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent.
MCT

By Josh Day

Reporter

 

At Baylor, the season of Lent will begin with a university-wide service observing Ash Wednesday.

The service will be held at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday at the George W. Truett Seminary’s Paul W. Powell Chapel.

“The service will focus on our need for forgiveness and grace, as we begin a season where penance is one of the primary themes,” said Dr. Burt Burleson, university chaplain.

Burleson will be leading those in attendance in a time of prayer, worship and reflection. Several other campus ministers and staff members of different denominations will also be involved in the service.

“This will be a service that is very inclusive,” said Carlos Colón, coordinator of worship initiatives for the Office of Spiritual Life at Baylor. “We have people from all over the university involved.”

Colón will be leading the musical aspects of the service, which will include some of his own compositions. The songs will come from different Christian traditions.

The service is ecumenical, meaning it will include messages, traditions and songs from different Christian denominations.

“We’re committed to drawing the university together for worship because we believe that corporate worship can form us as a community,” Burleson said., “We also think that it’s important for Christians to be aware of and appreciative of spiritual practices from other traditions.”

Burleson said the Office of Spiritual Life invites all of Baylor’s students, staff and faculty to attend.