As Christians get ready to observe Ash Wednesday by attending worship services that involve the imposition of ashes on their forehead in the shape of a cross, one Episcopal diocese will be taking the ritual outside its church walls.
In an observance known as “Ashes to Go,” The Episcopal Diocese of Washington will have churches helping to provide the ash crosses at various points in the Washington, D.C., area on Wednesday.
Locations where one can receive the Ash Wednesday cross will include metro stations and assorted church properties, listed here.
J. Keely Thrall, spokesperson for the Washington Diocese, told The Christian Post that Ashes to Go was “designed to bring a moment of grace to where the people are living their lives out in the community.”
“We live in an increasingly busy world where folks are stressed and overscheduled, and the idea of adding one more thing feels like the proverbial straw breaking the camel’s back,” explained Thrall.
“From coffee shops to Metro stations to school parking lots, church leaders in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington offer ashes, prayer, and an intentional spiritual connection to all who wish to partake in this modern expression of an ancient practice.”
Thrall explained that Ashes to Go will be available for those who cannot find a time to attend an Ash Wednesday service in the middle of a busy week.
SOURCE: Christian Post, Michael Gryboski
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