Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday at FUMC Dothan

A large, bright event hall is filled with people of all ages eating a meal at round tables with purple tablecloths, celebrating Mardi Gras.

Parades, Pancakes and lots of fun!

Shrove Tuesday, often called Fat Tuesday, is the joyful celebration that comes just before Lent begins. Historically, it was a day for confession and for using up rich foods before the Lenten season of simplicity. At FUMC Dothan, Shrove Tuesday is a time for fellowship and fun—gathering around the table with pancakes and laughter as we prepare our hearts for the more reflective journey of Lent. 
Be sure to grab some beads for our children, (the Krewe of FUMC Kids) as they take part in a “reverse parade” where the crowd gives beads!

Sharing our faith in a visible way

A graphic for an Ash Wednesday service with a cross made of ashes on a dark gray background. Text reads: Ash Wednesday, February 18, 6 PM, Sanctuary.

Following Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent in the life of the church, a forty-day journey of prayer, repentance, and renewal as we prepare for Easter. Rooted in the practices of the early church, Ash Wednesday calls us to humility and honest self-examination before God. 

During the service, ashes—made from last year’s Palm Sunday branches—are placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross. As the words “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return repent and believe the Gospel” are spoken, we are reminded of our dependence on God’s grace and mercy. 

The ashes are an outward sign of an inward commitment to follow Christ more faithfully. Marked by the cross, we begin Lent together—seeking forgiveness, spiritual growth, and transformation through prayer, fasting, and acts of compassion, trusting in God’s redeeming love.