Pastor Russ Klehn, right, places a cross of ash on the forehead of Haeven Cayette, 2, as Rodginald Cayette, of Valencia, holds her during an Ash Wednesday service at NorthPark Community Church in Valencia on Wednesday. About 300 people gathered at the church to mark the beginning of the Lenten season, the weeks leading up to Easter. “It’s a traditional service throughout the church. We don’t do a lot of traditional things, but this is something that we feel is important to start off this season,” Klehn said. “It’s a night of preparation, preparing our hearts for what’s going to come over the next six weeks or so.”