North Hills Churches Plan Ash Wednesday Services

Lent is the season of reflection and fasting leading to Easter, and it begins Wednesday and ends April 7, the Saturday before Easter. Many will mark the occassion with special liturgies and the ritual blessing and distribution of ashes, a public sign of repentance.

Below is a listing of the special services planned in the North Hills area. If a service is missing, please add the information in the comments section below, and I'll update the list. 

Special Services on Wednesday in Ross and West View: 

* Berkeley Hills Lutheran Church, 517 Sangree Road, a special prayer service and distribution of ashes will be held at 7 a.m., and a church service and distribution of ashes will be held at 7:30 p.m. 

* Christ Episcopal Church, at 5910 Babcock Boulevard, will have a Holy Eucharist Rite I and Imposition of Ashes at 7 a.m., noon and 7:30 p.m. 

* Hiland Presbyterian Church, at 845 Perry Highway, will have a service at 7:30 p.m. 

* McKnight United Methodist Church, 600 Fox Drive, Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. 

* North Hills United Presbyterian Church, at 100 Bellevue Avenue, will have a special service, distribution of ashes and communion at 7:30 p.m. A pot-luck covered dish dinner will be served at 6 p.m. 

* St. Athanasius Church, 7 Chalfonte Avenue, West View, ashes blessed and distributed at Mass at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Service to distribute ashes only at 4 p.m. 

* St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 920 Perry Highway, special services and distribution of ashes will be offered at 7 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Special services will continue to be held each Wednesday through Lent at 7 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.. A soup lunch with dessert and drinks will be provided free after each 11 a.m. service. 

* St. Sebastian Parish, 311 Siebert Road, Mass scheduled for 6:45 a.m., 9 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. A liturgy of the word and distribution of ashes will be at 4 p.m. 

* St. Teresa of Avila, 1000 Avila Court, will celebrate Mass with distribution of ashes at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. There will be a liturgy of the word with distribution of ashes at noon and 5 p.m. 

Nearby Services: 

* St. Alexis Catholic Church, at 10090 Old Perry Highway, will distribute ashes and liturgy of the word at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.

* St. Peter Parish, corner of Arch and West Ohio streets, North Side, Mass and distribution of ashes at 12:05 p.m.

* Our lady Queen of Peace, corner of Middle and Suismon streets, North Side, Mass and distribution of ashes at 6:30 p.m.