Colors for Epiphany are white and gold. The colors are white for the first and last Sundays and green for the others, representing growth. The first Sunday is the Baptism of Christ and the last Sunday is Christ's transfiguration. The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. Worship for the day focuses on the themes of sin and death in the light of God's redeeming love in Jesus Christ.
Scripture refers to ashes both as a sign of mortality and a sign of repentance.
In many churches palms used on Palm Sunday the previous year are burned and mixed with a little water to make ashes for Ash Wednesday. In the service the pastor uses the ashes to make a cross on the forehead of each worshiper. Lent lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays. Lent is a season of preparation for the celebration of Easter. At first Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism on Easter Eve.