For many Christians, the Lenten journey begins today when they go to church to receive an ashen cross on their foreheads (or hands, in some traditions) to symbolize their sorrow to God for what they have done wrong.Some pastors will use the Ash Wednesday service as an opportunity to evangelize — preaching the meaning of Lent as a 40-day pilgrimage to grow closer to God and to invite worshippers back for special services and programs. According to the gospels, Jesus spent 40 days praying and fasting in the desert before beginning his public ministry. Lent marks that phase of his life.Eastern Rite Christians will begin Lent on Monday and celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on April 13. Those in the Western tradition will celebrate Easter on April 8.Building faith“The challenge is to convince people why they should alter their lives for six weeks during Lent,” said the Rev. David Zachrich, pastor at Tallmadge Lutheran Church. “Our goal is to give people something that will help build their faith and deepen their commitment to living as Christians, imitating Jesus Christ.”To assist people on their Lenten journey, Tallmadge Lutheran Church, at 759 East Ave., is offering six Wednesday services at 6:30 p.m., beginning today with an Ash Wednesday observance that includes the imposition of ashes. The theme for the series is “CROSS/PEACE: For He is our PEACE through the CROSS.”At the heart of the series is a 12-inch wooden cross, which was given to worshippers Sunday and delivered to the homes of members who missed Sunday worship services. Each week, participants will receive an item — a stone, a coin purse, a purple ribbon, a nail, a die and a sponge. Each item, which will be displayed on the cross, serves as a reminder of a Scripture-based lesson.The stone, for example, will remind participants Christ is never more than a stone’s throw away (based on Luke 22:39-46). The coin purse challenges participants to think about how much they value their Christianity (Matthew 26:14-16). The purple ribbon is a reminder that although Christians consider Jesus as king, sometimes they ignore his rule (Mark 15:16-20). The die cautions participants not to gamble with their spiritual lives (John 19:23-24).“Hopefully, by building the display at home, people will have a constant reminder that this special holy season is a time to grow stronger in faith,” Zachrich said.Christ’s sacrificeThe Rev. David Weyrick, pastor at Stow Presbyterian Church, is also giving his parishioners a visual reminder of the Lenten season. He will distribute a small coin with the inscription “Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy upon me, a sinner” during the 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday service at the church, 4150 Fishcreek Road.“It’s something they can carry with them in their pocket, and it has a hole for a keychain,” Weyrick said. “It’s a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice, a reminder to humble ourselves, to reflect and pray and sacrifice by fasting or giving something up. We have to be serious in our sacrifice. It isn’t sacrifice if it doesn’t hurt a little bit, because ultimately, it is about discipline.”Weyrick, like Zachrich, will offer the imposition of ashes tonight and begin a weekly sermon series, “Lord, I Believe. Help My Unbelief.” The series, which will focus on doubt, will continue during regular Sunday worship services through Palm Sunday at 8:15, 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. A special six-week program that targets children 4 years old through sixth grade is 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Wednesdays.At First United Methodist Church, 245 Portage Trail in Cuyahoga Falls, the Rev. David Baker will lead a “Sermon on the Mount” Bible study from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. each Wednesday during Lent. The church organist, H. Dean Wagner, will present a 30-minute concert in the sanctuary at noon Thursdays through April 5.After each Wednesday study session, a Taize worship service will be offered from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Taize worship is a contemplative prayer service based on chant-like repetition of Bible verses that originated in an ecumenical Christian monastic order in Taize, France.“All three are opportunities for people to reflect,” said Baker, who will also impose ashes during tonight’s service at 7 p.m. “In our culture, it is sometimes difficult to quiet ourselves enough to really reflect on our lives. Lent is a spiritual journey. It is a time to look at our lives and hopefully become more faithful in our walk, modeling Jesus.”The social justice committees at St. Vincent and St. Sebastian Catholic churches in West Akron are offering people an opportunity to learn to exemplify the peace of God during a Monday Lenten forum series. “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” begins Monday and runs consecutive Mondays through March 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. in St. Sebastian’s Zwisler Hall, 500 Mull Ave. Participants will explore how to sow light in darkness, love amid hatred, faith where there is doubt and hope in despair.St. Sebastian Church, located at 476 Mull Ave., is offering Ash Wednesday services today at 9 a.m., 5:15 and 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday services are at 6:30 and 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at St. Vincent Church, 164 W. Market St.“Throughout Lent, we will try to help people boost their spiritual lives to the next level. Although we should always be focused on our faith, Lent is a special time when we put an extra emphasis on spiritual growth,” said the Rev. John Valencheck, pastor at St. Sebastian. “Our hope is that people will take this time to look at where they are and determine where they need to grow closer to God and to live out a faithful Christian life.”Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com