Ashes to Go

Ashes are an ancient sign of penitence. From the Middle Ages it became the custom to begin Lent by being marked in ash with the sign of the cross. The reminder that we are dust turns our attention to the creative power of God, and God’s ability to heal the brokenness in our lives when we offer that brokenness to God. That turning to God is the work of Lent, preparation for the celebration of Easter.

We take ashes to the street corner because that reminder of need, humility, and healing shouldn’t be confined to a church building. We probably need it more when we are in the middle of our daily business! The ashes we receive are to remind us throughout the day of our need for God, and of God’s call to us.

There is much more to the beginning of Lent than ashes alone, and we encourage you to make time for worship with a community of faith, for the support of others and of the great traditions of faith in our work of repentance and renewal. But God meets us not just in worship, but in the midst of life, and we offer the opportunity to remember our faith to those whose schedules make it hard to stop and pray with others on a busy Wednesday.

Click here for an Ashes to Go photo gallery

Ashes to Go locations on Wednesday, February 13

Linked location names will open a Google map of the location, sponsoring church names are italicized and link to the church's website.

Follow this link for a list of locations in Washington, DC and the surrounding counties in Maryland (Diocese of Washington).

Many of our churches offer services on Ash Wednesday. Follow this link to our church locator.

• 6:30 am (prior to the 7 am service), 12625 Catoctin Furnace Rd, Thurmont
  Drive Through Imposition of Ashes in the church parking lot)
  Harriet Chapel
   
• 7-9 am, 120 Allegheny Ave., in front of Trinity Church, Towson
  Trinity Church
   
• 7:30-8:30 am, 6400 Belair Rd., Baltimore (in front of the church)
  St. Matthias' Church
   
• 7:30-9 am, Cromwell, Linthicum, and North Linthicum Light Rail stations, Anne Arundel County
  Church of St. Christopher
   
• 8 am, 5129 Roland Ave. (Starbucks), Baltimore
  Church of the Redeemer
   
• 8:30-9:30 am, Lutherville and Timonium Fairgrounds Light Rail stations, Baltimore County
  Epiphany Church
   
• 11 am-2 pm, corner of Greenmount Ave. and Old York Rd., in front of St. John's Church, Baltimore
  St. John's in the Village
   
• 12-1:30 pm, The Avenue (36th St.) in Hampden, Baltimore
  Spiritually Thirsty
   
• 12 noon, Atwater's, Belvedere Square, Baltimore
  Church of the Redeemer
   
• 12:45-1:15 pm, 6400 Belair Rd., Baltimore (in front of the church)
  St. Matthias' Church
   
• 1-2 pm, North Charles and Saratoga St., Baltimore
  Old St. Paul's Church
   
• 1:30-2:30 pm, Penn Station and corner of St. Paul and 25th St., Baltimore
  Church of St. Michael and All Angels
   
• 2-3 pm, North Ave. and Bloomingdale Rd. (in front of the fire station), Baltimore
  Church of St. Mary the Virgin
   
• 3-5 pm, 120 Allegheny Ave., in front of Trinity Church, Towson
  Trinity Church
   
• 4:30-6:30 pm, Brunswick MARC station, Frederick County
  Grace Church
   
• 5-6 pm, 6400 Belair Rd., Baltimore (in front of the church)
  St. Matthias' Church
   
• 5-6:30 pm, Lutherville and Timonium Fairgrounds Light Rail stations, Baltimore County
  Epiphany Church
   
• 6:30 pm (prior to the 7 pm service), 12625 Catoctin Furnace Rd, Thurmont
  (Drive Through Imposition of Ashes in the church parking lot)
  Harriet Chapel
   

Additional Resources and Tips for Clergy

Thinking about taking to the streets on Ash Wednesday? Look no further for inspiration than http://ashestogo.org/. Any location where there may be lots of foot traffic is ideal. Train stations, light rail stops, park-and-ride lots, even a busy street corner in a downtown business center. Offer handout on meaning of Ash Wednesday, information on your parish with service times and Lenten program offerings. Many parishes have new members since participating in Ashes to Go. Yours could be one of those next year.

Ashes to Go: Tips for Liturgical Outreach
ECF Vital Practives, by the Rev. Emily Mellott