This article was written by McKenna Ross and appeared on MLive.com on February 26, 2020. Read the original post here.
Ann Arbor church offers ‘ashes to go’ despite Ash Wednesday snowstorm.
ANN ARBOR, MI — A snowstorm and canceled schools didn’t stop parishioners at an Ann Arbor church from giving commuters a chance to receive an Ash Wednesday blessing.
Three members of St. Clare’s Episcopal Church waved signs offering “Ashes to Go” to commuters from 7 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, on Packard Street. Seventeen drivers passing by were welcomed into the church’s parking lot at 2309 Packard St. to receive ashes on their foreheads from the Rev. Gene Curry to mark the beginning of Lent.
It was the first time St. Clare’s has offered the blessing to drivers, Deacon Intern Kelly Scheu said. She used to attend church in the Chelsea area where they offer the same service. When Scheu started several months ago, she thought it would be a good thing to bring to Ann Arbor.
“It’s about bringing the ministry to the streets,” Scheu said. “Not everybody in their busy schedules can get to church or mass.”
Access isn’t the only problem Scheu has identified.
“I also feel that some people have been hurt by the church at times so they don’t want to come into church walls,” she said. “But they still find that these traditions are important to them. Providing that on the streets is another way to reach them.”
Parishioner Jennifer Wolf said she was glad her church was providing the service because she knew people would want an alternative to fit into a complicated, snowy week day.
“It was really positive, we weren’t sure how many people would come just because the schools are closed today and the snowstorm and everything,” she said. “But people were coming in and they were just really appreciative because they said, ‘I didn’t know how I was going to get this done today.’ I think for the people who do go to Ash Wednesday services, it’s a meaningful time.”
The holiday morning was blanketed by two to three inches of snow in the area that dropped overnight, according to the National Weather Service. But the snow didn’t bother Scheu.
“To me it was just beautiful, seeing the snow all over the trees and the roads,” Scheu said. “That’s God. That’s God’s canvas. I felt very blessed to be out there in the elements. It doesn’t matter. I think if Jesus can do what he did — he got a lot of push back, and hanging on the cross for as long as he did — I can stay out in the cold for a couple hours.”