‘Ashes to go’

News

Related Photos

Photo courtesy JIm Vaiknoras/CNHI The Rev. Susan Esco Chandler at St James Church in Amesbury. Mass. On Ash Wednesday, Chandler will be having Ashes on the go where she'll be outside the church next to a sandwich board offering ashes to people who want them.

Discussion

February 21, 2012

Mass. church shares holiday ritual for those on the run

From CNHI News Service CNHI The Corsicana Daily Sun Tue Feb 21, 2012, 09:05 PM CST

AMESBURY, Mass. —

It is called “ashes to go” and the unusual Ash Wednesday service is spreading among Episcopal churches across the country.

Started five years ago in St. Louis, Mo., by Rev. Teresa K. M. Danieley at a roadway intersection, Episcopalian clergy smudge the sign of the cross on the forehead of anyone who stops and cares to receive the customary religious symbol for the start of Lent.

“It started sort of half-jokingly, but it became something pretty profound,” Danieley told Religious News Service. “It's fulfilling a spiritual need but also a pragmatic need. It's showing flexibility in an institution often seen as very inflexible.”

Rev. Susan Esco Chandler, rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Amesbury, Mass., said it is a way to engage people in Ash Wednesday even if they can't attend the traditional church service.

So she will stand outside her church on Ash Wednesday for the first time and dispense ashes to people on the go.

“I have members that can't make it to service in the evening or during the day because of either work or family obligations,” said Rev. Chandler. “I wanted to do something in the morning where they could drop by on their way to work.”

—————

Details for this story were provided by the Newburyport, Mass., Daily News, a sister publication of the Daily Sun. Want to “Soundoff” on this story? Email: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com

Text Only

News

Griffin retires after three decades teaching
When the school bell rings today, it will signal for most the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation.
But for Dana Griffin, it will mark the end of his 30-year career teaching ag science at Corsicana High School, the only job he’s had since graduating from college.
Though he is excited about his new horizons, this day will most likely be bittersweet, as 30 years of animals, ag projects, and kids — it’s always been about the kids — draws to a close.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Schools ready for summer
With a nearly balmy winter, local school districts faced the end of the year with so-called “snow days” still in their pockets. Corsicana schools will spend one of those bad weather days Monday, taking off Memorial Day.
The other free day was spent on April 9, the Monday after Easter.
“We called it Good Friday, Better Monday,” said Susan Johnson, spokeswoman for the district.

May 24, 2012
Church News
Open Door Church of God in Christ at 1201 E. Eighth Ave. will host a service tonight at 7 p.m. Pastor James Jones and wife Theresa A. Jones will be speakers. Pastor Jones is currently serving as Chairman of Evangelism for the Greater Huntsville Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship in Huntsville, Alabama. Theresa A. Jones serves as co-pastor of the Reunited Christian Fellowship Church in Huntsville, where they both reside.

May 24, 2012 3 Photos
Entertainment Beat
May 25
VFW Post 3366 invites all its members and guest out for an evening of karaoke with Country Sue’s Karaoke!! Canteen opens at 4 p.m. and karaoke starts at 8 p.m. until closing. Come early to get a good seat! Admission is free! Call (903) 872-3811 after 4 p.m. for more information.

May 24, 2012
Local Beat
May 26
Union High Volunteer Fire Department will hold a fundraiser at 6 p.m. at the fire station on FM 638. The menu consists of fried chicken, macaroni salad, green beans, rolls, tea and dessert, and there will be entertainment following the meal. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children.

May 24, 2012
Walk Across Texas wraps up
Do you want to know an easy way to get fit and reduce your risk for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke?
All it took for 312 Navarro County citizens this spring was a decent pair of walking shoes and 150 minutes of their time every week for eight weeks in the “Walk Across Texas” program sponsored by Texas AgriLife Extenstion.

May 23, 2012 1 Photo
Man suspected in Corsicana heist may have done others
The man accused of robbing the Corsicana Shell station at Interstate 45 and Texas Highway 31 is now being investigated for even more hold-ups, according to police investigators up and down I-45.

May 23, 2012
Power plant proposal still active
The Navarro Generating power plant project is buried in red tape, but it’s not dead.
Changes by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding Texas air emissions meant the proposed power plant had to do some new air modeling, the results of which were just recently submitted.

May 23, 2012
Lon Morris staff furloughed
All but a core minimum group of Lon Morris College employees received furlough notices Wednesday morning, and Miles McCall, president of the Jacksonville college, handed in his letter of resignation Tuesday, officials said Wednesday.

May 23, 2012
Boys & Girls Clubs Bowl-a-Thon set June 2
Things are being “spiced up” for the 2012 Boys & Girls Club Bowl-a-Thon.
This year, organizers are encouraging some “friendly competition” amongst the local businesses and churches in the surrounding area. Each organization is being asked to sponsor a bowling team.

May 23, 2012
More News Headlines

News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

‘Ashes to go’

Mass. church shares holiday ritual for those on the run

Site Map

Contact Us