Reverent Ash Wednesday Service is Observed at Olympics
A reverent Ash Wednesday service was held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond. The service began with a responsive reading of Psalm 51 and the Confession of Sin. Following the singing of the hymn, “Lamb of God”, Pastor Steven Harold invited the worshipers to come forward for the imposition of ashes. Pastor Harold’s words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” echoed through the quiet sanctuary as he placed the sign of the cross on the foreheads of God’s people. The Scripture lessons were read and then the Lenten hymn, “In the Cross of Christ I Glory.” 
Rev. Dr. Glenn Schaeffer preached on 2 Timothy 4:6-8 and Revelation 7:9ff. The theme was, “The Podium Moment”. Drawing comparisons between Steven Bradbury’s “miraculous” Olympic gold medal (his Podium Moment) at the Salt Lake City Olympic games, to the Podium Moment that awaits all believers in Jesus Christ, Dr. Schaeffer reminded us that Jesus is the One on the podium because it is Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension that makes it possible for us to experience an eternal podium moment like the world has never seen!
Following the sermon, the offering was collected; prayers were spoken; and the Benediction granted. The service closed with the evening hymn, “All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night.” 
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