By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY – Asbury United Methodist Church will begin the season of Lent with an Ash Wednesday service Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.

The Rev. Dr. Kip Laxson will preach “Walking in the Wilderness,” with Holy Communion followed by the Imposition of the Ashes.

Asbury holds services for Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Good Friday each year.

“We always have something during the season of Lent,” Asbury administrative staff member Karen Kirkpatrick said.

Last year, more than 600 people attended the Ash Wednesday service, Kirkpatrick said.

The sermon series for Lent at Asbury this year is called “Seven Lasting Words: Jesus Still Speaks to Us from The Cross.”

Sermons in the series, which will focus on what is commonly known as the seven last words or phrases that Jesus spoke from the cross, are as follows: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing,” Feb. 22; “Today you will be with me in Paradise,” March 1; “Woman, here is your Son,” March 8; “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” on March 15; and “I am thirsty,” March 22.

Asbury will hold a Palm Sunday service, “It is Finished,” on March 29, with celebration and palm branches.

Noonday services for Holy Week will be Monday, March 30 through Maundy Thursday, April 1.

Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett will be guest preacher for Holy Monday.

Each noonday service will include the Sacred Liturgy, homily and Holy Communion.

Asbury’s Good Friday Service of Darkness will be April 3 at 7 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Kip Laxson preaching the Seventh Word from The Cross – “Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit – followed by the stripping of the chancel.

Asbury members and non-members are welcome to attend the services.

Nursery and childcare will be available for all services.