BAKERSFIELD, CA - It is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and prayer for Christians. During some church services, the sign of a cross is rubbed on worshipers' heads with ashes to show repentance and mourning.
During the 40 days leading up to Easter, people often give up something. 17 News' Kristin Price talked with some people earlier who said they're going without things from certain foods to bad habits.
Some are even taking another approach to bettering themselves.
"I am going to daily mass and I'm here with my father. We just buried my mother on Friday and she and my father went to daily mass, so that's what I'm going to do," said parishioner Lorraine Wharton."Complaints. Yeah, complaining because I do too much of it. Then I catch my self, oh my lord forgive me, but it's very hard to do so. I'm going to try really hard," said parishioner Alice Najera.Saint Francis Church is having Ash services every hour, on the hour, from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. After that, services will be held from 5:00 pm until 7:30 pm every half hour. At 8:00 pm there will be a Spanish service.
There will be services all around Bakersfield.
Emanuel Lutheran Church is offering Ashes On The Go starting at 7:30 am on the corner of Truxtun Avenue and L Street near the county courts. If you're on your way to school or work and don't have time to go to a service, you can drive through and get your ashes there.
Click here for a complete list of services around Bakersfield.
