Loading...The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee took to the street on Ash Wednesday. Bishop Young, the Rev. Peggy Blanchard and the Rev. Chris Hackett gathered about 11 am Feb. 13 under an overhang at Union Ave. and Gay Street in downtown Knoxville, sheltered from stinging rain and cold wind blowing along the street. But their spirits were not dampened by the weather. An “Ashes to Go” sidewalk board next to them read “God loves everyone. No exceptions.” The clergy were on the street to offer ashes and a blessing to all who walked by.
Some passers-by were puzzled at the odd sight of people in collars and vestments out on the sidewalk and others were grateful for the opportunity to receive ashes in the midst of their day.
“This will save me an hour,” said one woman, who wanted ashes but who was worried she might not have time to go to a service.
“What is this?” a young man asked who was unfamiliar with the custom of imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday.” Bishop Young explained that the day marked the beginning of Lent – a 40-day season in preparation for Easter. He said that the words spoken while the ashes are given are a symbol of our humanity and mortality: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”
“Oh, OK,” the young man said after considering the bishop’s words. “Where do you put them?”
“On your forehead,” the bishop said.
“Oh no; no, no,” the young man said as he walked away, receiving a blessing as he left.
Some in downtown Knoxville were confused. One woman glanced at the sign, then walked past quickly, saying, “I’m not Catholic.” “Neither are we,” responded Bishop Young.
“Not today, thanks,” said a man walking a wide path around the clergy group and the Ashes to Go sign.
“This is so cool!” effused one man jumping over the curb and pulling off his hat to receive ashes.
Others acted as if this was a regular occurrence, already brushing back their hair or their hat as they approached, ready to receive ashes.
A driver called out her car window, “Happy Ash Wednesday!”
Bishop Young later in the day also took ashes to the pedestrian walkway near the Library of the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville.
One student was ecstatic to see Episcopal clergy on the campus. He did a double take before coming up to the bishop with a huge smile on his face. “Really? Ashes? Hey man, I’m Episcopalian!”
For another UT student, the significance of the day dawned on him as he saw the “Ashes to Go” sign, “It’s Ash Wednesday, isn’t it? Dang! I forgot about mass.”
“Awesome!” said a student on the way to class.
“Oh, the genius of you!” said another student. “I need ashes.”
But most people in downtown Knoxville and on the UT campus quietly came up, looked into the eyes of the clergy, received ashes and a blessing, then went on their way.
We don’t often take the opportunity to be the church in the street, and for some, offering Ashes to Go may seem odd, contrary, and maybe even seem like a challenge to churches offering Ash Wednesday services.
“I like to think of trying to follow Jesus’ lead and go out and meet people in the world,” Blanchard said in an interview with a WBIR reporter. “Not everybody has the time or the opportunity to get to a church service.”
Bishop Young said “I enjoyed making prayerful contact with people I didn’t know and I could see how people appreciated the church coming to them. There was so much positive feedback from the people.”
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