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Whether church makes or buys them at store, they are a life lesson
By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal religion writer
Published on Wednesday, Feb 06, 2008
Christians of various faiths will make their way to church today to kneel and pray, ask God for forgiveness and receive the mark of an ashen cross on their foreheads.
Traditionally, the ashes come from burned palm fronds kept from the previous Palm Sunday.
Sometimes, they come from packages that were purchased at stores. They could be recently burned or surplus stored from previous years.
Where the ashes come from, however, isn't important, according to some local pastors.
''We're more interested in the biblical symbolism of the ashes,'' said the Rev. David Palmer, pastor of the United Methodist Church of Kent, who has burned palm fronds in the past but will use ashes from packages purchased at a Christian bookstore during today's Ash Wednesday service at his church.
While commercial ashes are available from church supply and retail stores, the traditional burning of palm fronds appears to be the most popular local method for supplying the ashes that end up on the foreheads of parishioners. Representatives at local Christian bookstores say they typically stock a maximum of five packages of ashes.
''We started carrying them about two years ago and we're lucky to sell one pack a year,'' said Faith
Haydon, assistant manager at Berean Christian Store in the Montrose area. ''It's definitely not something people ask for a lot.''
The practice of marking foreheads with the sign of the cross on Ash Wednesday — the day that ushers in Lent, the 40-day Christian journey toward Easter — dates to the seventh century.
Biblical origin
The ritual of imposing ashes is blessed with a biblical passage from Genesis 3:19: ''For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.'' The black ashes serve as a symbol of mortality and repentance before God and a reminder that through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, there is forgiveness for all.
''The ashes are a reminder that we dare not trust in things that crumble, like our bodies and material possessions, which will eventually turn to dust and ashes,''said the Rev. Joseph Eubanks, interim pastor at High Street (Disciples of Christ) Christian Church. ''But Lent does not leave us on the ash heap. It begins with Ash Wednesday but ends with Easter, which proclaims that through Christ, God resurrects us from our dust and ashes, makes us new creatures and brings life out of death.''
Church made
Last week, Eubanks and Youth Minister Chad Delaney used scissors to cut palm branches into small pieces, placed them in a small red bucket, shared a blessing and set the pieces ablaze atop the steps of the church in downtown Akron. A small amount of paper was added to the bucket to help the smoldering ashes burn. After the fire was rekindled several times, the fronds were reduced to a coarse ash, which had to be crushed to produce a more refined powder.
Today, Eubanks will add a small amount of oil to help the ashes stick better when applied.
Although the traditional burning of the fronds can be smelly, messy and time-consuming, Eubanks and others agree that it's worth the effort because it helps people understand that they have gone through a year of celebration in the church.
A new beginning
''It reminds us that we have a new beginning in this life as we begin the season of Lent and that we must trust our continuing life with God after death,'' said the Rev. Meghan Froehlich, pastor at Church of Our Saviour Episcopal in Akron. ''The ashen cross is a sign of our willingness to allow God to work in our lives and it reminds us that new beginnings are possible.''
Episcopalians, Roman Catholics and many Lutherans have traditionally streamed into their churches on Ash Wednesday for the service that includes the imposition of ashes. Over the years, less liturgical faiths have also offered the imposition of ashes, inviting parishioners to reflect seriously on their need to repent of sin and be more faithful to God.
The Rev. Perry Elkins, pastor at Calvary Wesleyan Church in Barberton, has imposed ashes for the past few years. This year, he will use a combination of burned and bought ashes. He said the Ash Wednesday service is a practical way to help people understand their faith.
An outward sign
''I'm interested in looking for practical ways to demonstrate what our faith really is,'' Elkins said. ''In general, Protestants have moved away from the traditional kinds of things that are tangible in how we practice our faith.
''Faith is something we have in our private lives, but it is supposed to be evident in the way we live. People come forth for the mark of the cross as a way of recognizing our frailty and our need for God's grace.''
Elkins and others who have used commercial ash agree that the quality is much better than ash that is prepared at the church.
The Rev. Ralph Thomas, pastor at St. Paul Catholic Church in Akron, remembers the mess left behind when he was an 18-year-old seminarian at St. Meinrad School of Theology in southern Indiana.
''I was sick and in the infirmary,'' Thomas said. ''A priest came in with a little bowl of ashes that were like fine granola and sprinkled them over my head in the sign of the cross. I had ashes all over my pajamas, the pillow and sheets. I was literally sack cloth and ashes that day.''
Purchasing OK
Today, Thomas will use commercial ashes that are 100 percent ground palm ashes. In the Roman rite, the ashes must come from blessed olive or palm branches. They can be burned or purchased.
''The ashes that come in these little packages are amazing,'' he said. ''A teaspoon serves more than 300 people. I know it's sort of a monastic tradition to burn the palms, but I really like to focus on the prayers that go with the ritual and the spirit of what it means.
''The ashes are a visible sign that we are beginning this special time of spiritual renewal. Our hope is that our faith will take root in our hearts and minds and reach out to a more fitting way to live with each other.''
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Christians of various faiths will make their way to church today to kneel and pray, ask God for forgiveness and receive the mark of an ashen cross on their foreheads.
Get the full article here.
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