Get Ready: Ashes to Go 2013

By the Rev. Edmund Harris

Last year on Ash Wednesday, a handful of lay people and clergy from congregations in the Diocese of Rhode Island did something new: we took ashes outside of our church buildings and offered them to people on the streets. Of all the days in the Church’s year, we thought, Ash Wednesday is a day when God’s love and mercy meet people wherever they might be, whatever their connection to church or God has been.

Seeking to embody this, we stood at bus depots, train stations and even at the airport, imposing ashes on people’s foreheads and offering prayers. When people asked about who we were and what would compel us to stand out in the cold for hours, we told them about the Episcopal Church and invited them to come on Sunday. “Ashes to Go” was an incredibly simple, easily organized event, yet one that had a huge impact on both those offered and received ashes. The following Sunday, many of the congregations who had participated saw a surge in visitors and newcomers. One woman, who has since joined the Episcopal Church, said she saw us on the news and knew she “wanted to be part of a church that did something like that.”

This Ash Wednesday, February 13, Bishop Knisely will be participating in Ashes to go as well, and invites every congregation in the Diocese to participate by taking ashes out into their local communities. Where might your congregation offer ashes in your local community? Where are the people in your community who are not coming to church on Ash Wednesday? Are they in coffee shops? Waiting on train platforms? Hanging out on park benches? Dropping their kids off at school? We encourage you to pay attention and to consider offering the gift of ashes, your prayers and your presence. Only God knows how your encounters on Ash Wednesday will change others, yourself, even your whole congregation.

Ashes to Go 2013 is being coordinated by Church Beyond the Walls, a new ministry of Church of the Epiphany in East Providence, which is planting a “street church” in Providence that hopes to begin worship soon near Burnside Park, and encourage Rhode Island Christians to engage people outside of their doors.

Church Beyond the Walls will hold an orientation to Ashes to Go on Thursday, February 7 from 6-7 p.m. at Church of the Epiphany, East Providence. All who are interested in offering ashes are encouraged to attend.

Plan to participate? please contact the Rev. Edmund Harris, Church Beyond the Walls Priest and Lead Organizer 434-5012 #14.

For online Ashes to Go resources, visit http://ashestogo.org/.