Contrast this with the amazing Gospel of grace that can save anyone from hell and give eternal life.
There is nothing wrong with Ash Wednesday. This is not a sacrament. This is adiaphora: neither commanded nor forbidden in God's Word. Instituted with a good intention, for the sake of good order.
The knee-jerk rejection of anything seemingly Roman Catholic is sometimes quite silly. If a church doesn't want to participate in Ash Wednesday that is fine. If a church wants to participate in Ash Wednesday that is fine as well. Salvation is not tied to observing Ash Wednesday.
Matthew: 6:16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
"Instituted with a good intention, for the sake of good order.
"In the pre-Christian Norse religion the laying of ashes was meant to grant the Norse God Odin’s protection using ashes meant to represent Sigurd–the ashes of Sigurd contained the blood of Fafnir and would protect a Viking warrior in battle. When the Vikings raided coastal towns in western and Mediterranean Europe they brought their beliefs and practices with them, included the laying of ashes on a Wednesday–Odin‘s Day–which the Christian Church appropriated. Wednesday continued to be used as the day of the laying of ashes. "http://www.allyngibson.com/?p=969
Contrast that with the heartbeat of Christ - the very salvation of our souls through His Gospel of grace.