Today is Ash Wednesday and services are planned throughout the Sacramento region at Roman Catholic and Protestant churches.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season, a time of reflection for Christians.
Over the next 40 days, many will make sacrifices large and small as self-denial is a staple of Lent.
Faith Presbyterian Church in Sacramento is asking members to spend 1 percent of their day over the next 40 days -- 14.4 minutes every day -- in prayer.
St. John's Lutheran Church, 17th and L streets, has two Ash Wednesday services: at 12:15 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sacramento Roman Catholic Bishop Jaime Soto will preside at the 12:10 p.m. mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament downtown.
On Ash Wednesday, a day of fast and abstinence for Catholics, a cross of ashes is placed on the foreheads of adherents.
The bishop will also preside at a 3 p.m. mass with distribution of ashes at California State University, Sacramento, in the Orchard Suite room on the second floor of the University Union.
Bishop Soto will also preside at two outdoor Ash Wednesday liturgies: at 8 a.m. with distribution of ashes on the west steps of the state Capitol and 5 p.m. with distribution of ashes outside the Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse, 501 I Street.
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