Ashes to Go
We are not meant to simply wait for people to find us and join us on a Sunday morning. Jesus sent His disciples into all the communities of the Holy Land commanding them to heal and preach the Good News. One of the ways that we continue to respond faithfully to this command is to not only have Ash Wednesday services in the morning and evening at St. Mary's, but to take Ash Wednesday to all of God's people as they live their daily lives in the community.
Each year since 2015, Fr. Philip and lay volunteers have gone into the middle of town and stationed themselves outside Starbucks and outside Panera Bread offering a prayer and ashes for Ash Wednesday to all who pass by. It's easy to get the impression that our world has gone completely secular, but we estimate that over 80% of the people invited to receive an imposition of ashes accept enthusiastically. Even when the weather has not been cooperative (cold and snow), we have never imposed ashes on fewer than 50 of our friends and neighbors. Most years it is more like 80 or more.
We are grateful to God for this opportunity to take Church to God's people!
Each year since 2015, Fr. Philip and lay volunteers have gone into the middle of town and stationed themselves outside Starbucks and outside Panera Bread offering a prayer and ashes for Ash Wednesday to all who pass by. It's easy to get the impression that our world has gone completely secular, but we estimate that over 80% of the people invited to receive an imposition of ashes accept enthusiastically. Even when the weather has not been cooperative (cold and snow), we have never imposed ashes on fewer than 50 of our friends and neighbors. Most years it is more like 80 or more.
We are grateful to God for this opportunity to take Church to God's people!