Mundelein church takes Ash Wednesday to the streets

On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, Ivanhoe Congregational Church will be offering "Ashes to Go," a new approach to a centuries-old Christian tradition, from 6-8 a.m. at 21078 W. Route 176, a half-mile west of the routes 60 and 83 intersections, in Mundelein.

Drive into the church parking lot, stay in your car and receive your cross of ashes near the back door of the church. Anyone who has time is invited to stop in for coffee. Those leaving will be helped merging into traffic.

Ivanhoe Congregational Church, a United Church of Christ, is part of a new nationwide movement that has clergy and lay people visiting transit stops, street corners, coffee shops, and college campuses to mark the foreheads of interested passers-by with ashes and invite them to repent of past wrongdoing.

Ivanhoe will offer "Drive Thru Ashes" to those who want to take a brief detour while driving by.

In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday marks the start of the holy season of Lent, a time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. For centuries, Christians have received a cross of ashes on the face at the beginning of that season as a reminder of mortal failings and an invitation to receive God's forgiveness.

"Ashes to Go" provides the opportunity to participate in that tradition for people who have lost their connection to a church or have never participated before.

The Rev. Dr. Kristopher Hewitt, pastor of Ivanhoe Church, said, "We are excited about this opportunity to reach out to the community."

"'Ashes to Go' is about bringing the important traditions of our faith out from behind church walls and into the places we need them every day," said the Rev. Emily Mellott, who maintains the website AshesToGo.org with resources and stories about this ministry.

"As people get busier and busier, we need the church in new and nontraditional ways. We especially need reminders of forgiveness in the tough places of our working lives. The people who accept ashes on the street are often people longing to make a connection between their faith and the forces of daily life, and 'Ashes to Go' helps them feel that connection."

In Mundelein, Ivanhoe Congregational Church is offering "Ashes to Go" for the first time this year. The church will also host two worship services at noon and 7:30 p.m. in partnership with Community Protestant Church, United Church of Christ.

For details, call (847) 566-5204 or visit www.ivanhoechurch.org. For more information about the "Ashes to Go" movement, visit www.AshesToGo.org