The Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman of the Tree of Life Evangelical Lutheran Church and several volunteers offered visitors and parishioners ashes, prayers and devotionals Wednesday in observance of Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, at the Immanuel Lutheran campus on Second Street. The team also collected donations and goods for the UCAN Mission and the Evergreen Health program. P-J photo by Katrina Fuller

The ashes were rough as fingertips left a trail of black on the foreheads of many on Wednesday morning.

“Remember: From dust you came, and to dust you shall return,” the Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman said, creating a cross on each visitor’s head at the Ashes To Go service in the parking lot of the Immanuel Lutheran campus in honor of Ash Wednesday.

Eastman, pastor of Tree of Life Evangelical Lutheran Church, and a team of volunteers offered ashes, prayers, devotionals and hot coffee to those who stopped by.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of a 40-day period of fasting and reflection before Easter.

“I love Ash Wednesday because it’s the time to draw closer to prayer and to really focus on the fact that God is with us every day,” she said. “God loves us so much. Being able to express that, in the good things and the bad things in life, as a pastor I think that is the most important thing for us to hold on to in this time.”

Eastman said more than 30 people had already received ashes before noon.

“We’ve been giving away little devotion booklets today, and we printed 50 and we’re almost out of them,” she said.

Eastman said those who missed the Ash Wednesday services can attend worship on Sunday at the Holy Trinity campus at 825 Forest Ave. at 10:15 a.m., or participate in the weekly Lenten dinners on Wednesdays during Lent. A schedule of events is located on the Tree of Life Church Facebook page.

The church also took donations of non-perishable snacks, bottled water and socks to benefit the UCAN City Mission and Evergreen Health Exchange. The donation collection will continue throughout the month of February.

“We’ve got a good box going here today,” she said.

For more information on upcoming events or ways to donate to the non-perishable food drive, find Tree of Life on Facebook, visit www.toljamestown.com or call 664-7104.