That said, the profoundly tactile nature of the rite has become a significant ritual moment for many of our people so simply eliminating it without an appropriate ritual substitute, particularly in this time of pandemic, will surely have pastoral consequences. In any event, the imposition of ashes remains an optional dimension of the Ash Wednesday rite. A variety of rites and practices were in circulation, some with semi-official status from diocesan bishops, while others were local adaptations of the rites of other traditions, normally the Roman. Although the present Prayer Book is the first to set forth a rite that includes the imposition of ashes, the practice was not unknown in The Episcopal Church previously. 1 In this brief note we will limit ourselves only to the imposition of ashes.įirst, it is probably important to note that the Prayer Book rubric reads, If ashes are to be imposed (265). The broad outlines, but still without the detail the topic deserves, may be found here. This is not the place for a lengthy excursus on the history and development of the Ash Wednesday liturgy and the regrettable turn that the rite took in the post-Vatican II reforms of the Roman Church which, unfortunately, the Book of Common Prayer 1979 may have followed a bit too closely. Rubber gloves? Q-Tips? Imposition with immediate removal with an antibacterial wipe? All sorts of things are surely possible, but perhaps we should look first to see if the tradition has anything to teach us. The implication of the questions has generally assumed that some sort of fresh and innovative solution could be found. Several bishops have recently asked if I had any counsel with respect to the imposition of ashes in a time of pandemic.

Those who wish the ashes will be invited forward for their imposition.A Note on Ash Wednesday and the Imposition of Ashes in a Time of Pandemic

Thus, it includes not simply what we “give up for Lent,” but rather what we take on and how we open ourselves to God and his will for us.Īshes offered are signs of our mortality and thus of our giving up of barriers and controls we might erect.

The term “fast” refers not specifically to favorite food we might give up, but rather to any activity or busyness of mind and heart that would set up a barrier to the realization of God’s spirit working within us. The service will offer the Ash Wednesday liturgy with Holy Eucharist, hymns, and an optional imposition of ashes.Īsh Wednesday is the first day of Lent, when Christians gather to begin a Lenten fast of 40 days, which do not include Sundays. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 313 Main St., Chester, Vt. 22 at 5:30 p.m., an Ash Wednesday service will take place downstairs in Willard Hall, whose outdoor entrance is down the wooden stairway at the rear at St.

Imposition of ashes service episcopal