By LYNN FINNEGAN
Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church
Perhaps you are familiar with Mardi Gras and “Fat Tuesday,” but did you know these celebrations precede one of the most important days on the Christian calendar?
Ash Wednesday marks the start of the holy season of Lent, a time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter.
On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (TOTH), joined this year by Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (BELC), will be offering “Ashes to Go”, 8:30-10:30 a.m. on the sidewalk near Starbucks on Central Avenue.
Why ashes?
“We take some time to remember our mortality by having our foreheads smudged with ashes and to confess the ways in which we fail to live as our best selves,” explains The Rev. Christopher M. Adams, rector at Trinity on the Hill.
Ashes are a reminder of the dust of the earth, but also a reminder of being renewed and restored through the grace and mercy of God.
Pastor Nicole´ Ferry at Bethlehem, did not grow up with a “smudge on the forehead” faith tradition.
“Now I love to have conversations about this amazing mark of Christ on my forehead and in my life!” she exclaims.
Both Trinity on the Hill Episcopal and Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran have services at their churches on Ash Wednesday, but they acknowledge the busy-ness of life and work obligations often prevents people from attending a service. Ashes to Go provides the opportunity to participate in this tradition for people who are unable to attend a Wednesday church service, who have lost their connection to a church, or have never participated before.
Since 2007, members of major Christian Churches worldwide, including Episcopalians, Anglicans, Catholics, Lutherans and Methodists, have participated in the Ashes to Go program and discovered passers-by hungry for a moment of prayer, renewal and grace.
This is the third year Ashes to Go has been offered in Los Alamos and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The people we see are just so grateful,” explains Lynn Finnegan of Trinity on the Hill.
“We have smudged the foreheads of those who can’t get away from work for a church service, those who have a faith practice they have fallen away from, those who are new to the tradition and are happy for the blessing, and those who simply forgot it was Ash Wednesday!”
Ashes to Go is available to anyone and everyone.
Both churches offer services for those interested in a more expansive Ash Wednesday opportunity. Trinity on the Hill will offer Ash Wednesday services at 7 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26 at their church at 3900 Trinity Dr.
Bethlehem will hold services at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at their church at 2390 North Road.
Contact Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church, 505.662.5107 or Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 505.662.5151 for more information about Ashes to Go or any of the services.
More information about the Ashes to Go movement can be found at www.AshesToGo.org.
