Church takes Ash Wednesday to the streets
For the second year, on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10, Ivanhoe Congregational Church will be offering Ashes to Go, a new approach to a centuries-old Christian tradition, from 7-8 a.m. at 21078 W. Route 176 in Mundelein. Drive in the church parking lot, stay in your car and receive your cross of ashes near the back door of the church. Those with time are invited to stop in for coffee. Drivers will be helped to safely merge back into traffic.
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 are unable to attend a church service.
Ivanhoe Congregational Church, a United Church of Christ, is part of a this 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 and seek forgiveness and renewal. Ivanhoe will offer Drive Through Ashes to those passing by who want to take a brief detour.
"We are excited about this opportunity to reach out to the community," The Rev. Dr. Kristopher Hewitt, pastor of Ivanhoe Church said.
"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."
For details, call (847) 566-5204 or visit www.ivanhoechurch.org. More information about the Ashes to Go movement can be found at www.AshesToGo.org
• To submit Your news with one photo, go to dailyherald.com/share. To submit Your news with multiple photos, send it to nbrcalender@dailyherald.com.