Polytechnic United Methodist Church will be having a come and go event for Ash Wednesday on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Pastor Ginger Watson said students will be able to get their ashes and make a prayer request.

Watson explained that in the Christian religion, Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent. The season of Lent lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays, and ends a day before Easter Sunday.

“Christians use the 40 days of Lent to prepare themselves for the joy of Easter Sunday,” Watson said. “This time is used to acknowledge that God went through a lot in his life and that he gets what [we] go through too.”

During the service, attendees will have the opportunity to get ashes on their forehead, Watson said.

According to catholic.org, the ashes may be removed once service is done. They do not have to be kept for the duration of Ash Wednesday.

“Traditionally, in the Old Testament, people would receive ashes when they were grieving or in repentance,” Watson said. “[By wearing ashes] you are acknowledging that you have not done things the way you wanted and want to live more for God.”

Watson said all prayer requests made will be prayed for throughout Lent.

Degiandira Escobedo, a senior accounting major at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, likes how Wesleyan is having service for students and thinks it would be a good idea for Texas Woman’s to do the same and hold an Ash Wednesday service on campus.

“It would be convenient because sometime due to school or work, you can miss Ash Wednesday,” Escobedo said. “If service was provided on campus, it would be a lot easier [to attend service] versus having to go to a mass.”

Escobedo thinks it is innovative that Wesleyan is having the service during free period.

“When [mass] is held too late at night, it makes it hard to attend service,” she said. “During lunch, you’re free and actually have time.”

Steven Samaniego, a worker for the Upward Bound Program, also thinks it is great that the service is being held during the daytime.

“Service is usually at night time so a lot of people are not able to make it,” he said. “I think it is good that service is at an available time for students.”

Watson said the service will be open to anyone who wishes to join.

The Polytechnic Church will be having Lent-related events that will lead up to Easter Sunday, Watson said.

“Every Sunday we will have worship at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel,” she said.

Watson said Easter Sunday will be at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary and hopes that it will be a big celebration.

“I would love for anyone who wants to come and celebrate with us on Easter Sunday,” Watson said.