Nothing in any of the historic liturgies requires the imposition of ashes,” he said. “That's the thing that's widely misunderstood. Luckily, the ashes - while perhaps the most visible part of Ash Wednesday observances - aren’t the most important, said Burton Edwards, one of the group’s co-conveners. The group also approved the Vatican’s recommendation for priests to mix ash with holy water and wordlessly sprinkle it on congregants.Īnd it suggested churches can forgo ashes altogether. Other recommendations from the Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments include distributing ashes to congregants for their personal use - Scripture, the document points out, describes people sprinkling themselves with ashes.

“I really do want to see the faces again. Stacy Gahlman-Schroeder of Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church in DeForest, Wisconsin, plans to stand in the church parking lot throughout the day, dipping disposable Q-tips into the ashes, rather than her finger, or offering a blessing, if it’s preferred.Īs cold as that sounds, Gahlman-Schroeder is looking forward to it. This year, they join drive-thru live nativities, drive-thru communion, even drive-thru confession. Burton Edwards, pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregation in Warner Robins, Georgia.ĭrive-thru ashes have been gaining popularity in recent years for busy Christians unable to attend weekday Ash Wednesday services. “The pandemic has to be paid attention to,” said the Rev.

17, recommending no indoor meetings, lots of hand sanitizer and, when doling out ashes in a drive-thru, keeping the line moving to avoid traffic jams. Stacy Gahlman-Schroeder of Wisconsin plans to stand in the church parking lot throughout the day, dipping disposable Q-tips into the ashes, rather than her finger.Īn ecumenical group of clergy, theologians, liturgical scholars and public health experts recently released guidelines for safely observing Ash Wednesday, which falls this year on Feb. Some churches haven’t met since the pandemic first upended life during the last Lenten season. That practice presents a problem when health experts fighting COVID-19 have advised people to avoid touching their faces or coming in close proximity to others. Clergy smear ashes, usually those left after burning palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday celebrations, onto congregants’ foreheads, often in the shape of a cross. Many churches mark the beginning of the penitential season of Lent with the imposition of ashes. (RNS) - Ash Wednesday is one of the touchiest observances on the liturgical calendar - literally.

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