Ash Wednesday Drive Through?

I don't think it is weird, although I didn't know that Lutherans went in for the ritual of Ash Wednesday and the application of the ashes. The people seemed to be receiving this with gratitude and reverence.

When I was teaching at a catholic school most of the girls did not attend mass early on Ash Wednesday. The nuns decided to hold a ceremony at school at assembly. As part of the ceremony the home room teachers would apply the ashes to their students, if the girls were willing, with the words "Be faithful to the Gospel and turn away from sin".

Although I am not a catholic I was happy to perform this service and the girls in my class were eager to receive the ashes. It was written all over their faces and in that moment they were truly innocent. Perhaps the people in the cars are eager for something too but are unable to find the time to attend a service early in the morning.
 

I remember once when I was a kid, I saw my next door neighbour coming home with a mark on his forehead. Not knowing what it was I said "Do you know you've got dirt on your forehead?". He just gave a sort of smile. I mentioned this to my parents who were a bit shocked and said that our neighbours were "different" to us and they did things like that. I thought they must be mad or something.

Now I know what it is, but being Presbyterians, we didn't do that sort of thing.
 
My husband usually goes to church on Ash Wednesday but didn't this year. I grew up catholic so did get the 'dirty forehead'.
 
Dame Warrigal, yes, Lutherans do it with great reverence. My church had a late morning service and an evening one on Ash Wednesday. I went to the evening one. As QS put it so eloquently on another thread, Lutherans are "light Catholics," and rituals, etc. are very similar. I've been to Catholic funerals and was surprised to find the liturgy exactly the same. I could recite the responses from memory.
 
We are Anglicans and received ashes in church in the evening on Ash Wednesday.
It is done with reverence and begins the Easter season.
The drive through ashes is certainly different but all seemed grateful and happy to get
the the prayer and the ashes cross.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top