St. Charles church to host 'Ashes to Go' at Geneva Metra station

Wednesday, Feb. 18 is Ash Wednesday, and once again the clergy and parishioners of St. Charles Episcopal Church will be at the Geneva Metra train station offering "Ashes to Go" during the morning commuter rush from 6:20 a.m. through 7:50 a.m.

In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of Lent. Lent is a time of penitence and fasting leading up to Easter. During this time, Christians around the world reflect on their spiritual journeys, their relationships, and on their own mortality. On Ash Wednesday, many Christians go to church and receive ashes on their foreheads as a sign of their mortality. But for many, making it to church on Ash Wednesday just doesn't happen for a number of reasons from inconvenience to indifference.

So the people of St. Charles Episcopal Church decided to go out and meet them where they are at, both literally and figuratively. Any and all are welcome to receive ashes, no matter their denomination or even religion.

"In an increasingly secular world, our church hopes to bring the church out to the people and into the marketplace to better serve the world. What better way to understand the hopes, needs, and concerns of the world than by being out in the world?," says the Rev. Elizabeth Meade, an Episcopalian priest.

"It is a great way to start the day: reminded that we are all beloved and forgiven children of God," Meade says. "I see it as a public reminder that God is everywhere, seeking to refresh and restore the world."

St. Charles Episcopal Church, which offers three Sunday morning services, is located at 994 N. Fifth Ave. (Route 25) in St. Charles. For more information, call (630) 584-2596 or visit www.stcharlesepiscopal.org