A. Frank Smith sets Ash Wednesday service

The A. Frank Smith United Methodist Church of Alto will hold its annual Ash Wednesday worship service at 6 p.m. Feb. 6.

The special worship time will be the first event of the 2008 Lenten season and the beginning of special worship and ministry time leading up to the celebration of Easter.

"The season of Lent in the Christian Church has traditionally been a time of self-examination and repentance for being less than what God has created us to be," said Dick Dobbins, pastor. The Ash Wednesday service begins a time of serious observance of this important time of the year.

Worship will include the imposition of ashes on the worshipers' foreheads in the sign of the cross, a symbol of repentance and sorrow for their sins and imperfections.

This sign serves as a reminder of the commitment by the worshipper to look at his or her spiritual needs.

The church is located on U.S. Highway 69, one block south of the traffic signal in Alto.

For information phone (936) 858- 4347 or e-mail afsmith@consolidated. net.