Ash Wednesday begins solemn Lenten season

First Lutheran celebrates Ash Wednesday in new building

Members of First Lutheran Church in Lorain celebrated Ash Wednesday for the first time Feb. 14 in their new location, 1019 W. Fifth St.

Marking a season of renewal, the congregation gathered for a noon service led by the Rev. Rosalina Rivera, pastor of the church, and opened the Lenten season for the first time following the retirement of the Rev. Jimmy Madsen, who retired as pastor at the end of 2017.

First Lutheran members moved into their new location Dec. 2, 2017, more than three years after arson destroyed their historic 603 Washington Ave. location in August 2014.

In her sermon opening the 40 day journey of Lent, Rivera drove home the central themes of death and repentance reminding parishioners of the freedom that comes from acknowledging their own mortality in throwing out the urge to use euphemisms in reflecting and acknowledging their past.

“People all over the world will once again hear the

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return. ”

— Rev. Rodalina Rivera, pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lorain

daunting words which remind us of their own past,” she said. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return.

“We receive this large smudge of black on our foreheads which clearly marks where we’ve been, and in our hearts, are reminded of what one day will come to us all.”

After Rivera applied the ashes across the foreheads of parishioners, they attached ribbons to a cross displayed in the worship hall as a symbolic representation of leaving their sins behind.

“We begin each service with a confession to remind each other daily and weekly of failings and our shortcomings,” she said. “Yet, when you mention it directly, we become uncomfortable.

“But we often forget what comes after the confession.”

For Rivera, the Lenten season is about the recognition that humans are fallible with the ashes representing the burdens carried by broken people of God.

Virginia Kaada, 75, of Lorain, delivered readings of Isaiah and Corinthians.

A retired Lutheran pastor, Kaada grew up in Lorain and has witnessed the church transition through the decades.

She said she is pleased with the new building’s acoustics and positive energy from the open space.

“The mood of the service is the same,” Kaada said. “Lent is the same. We’re glad to have our own space again, and we’re still learning our way around here.”

Kaada, who returned to Lorain following her retirement, was baptized, confirmed and ordained at First Lutheran.

For Rivera, the Lenten season is about the recognition that humans are fallible with the ashes representing the burdens carried by broken people of God.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL The Rev. Rosalina Rivera applies ashes to the forehead of parishioners Feb. 14, during First Lutheran Church’s afternoon Ash Wednesday service.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Doris Garber, of Oberlin, hugs Joanne Eldridge, of Sheffield Lake, as an offering of peace Feb. 14

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL The Rev. Rosalina Rivera ties a ribbon to the cross during First Lutheran Church’s Ash Wednesday service.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Dorothy Robbins, of Lorain, sings along from a hymnal during the Ash Wednesday service.