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Ashless

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. My pastor decided not to do the imposition of ashes. I think it was the first time in my life I didn’t get ashes on my forehead for Ash Wednesday.

It was interesting to think about how forehead ashes are not talked about in the Bible, so they don’t really matter, but that it has been such a long-standing tradition in my life it feels like it should matter. In the end, I really appreciated the experience because it made me think about priorities.

I didn’t get a chance to ask my pastor why he didn’t do it because so many people were chit-chatting with him after the service. Maybe I’ll catch up with him later.

6 Comments

  1. Lauren

    I like your forehead picture.

    Personally, I am not a fan of the ashes, and that’s probably a reason why they are good. The actual application gives me the shivers, and that is a good reminder of the awfulness of my sin. At school we wrote our sins on papers and I burned them, then showed them the ashes. They could get a cross on their hand if they liked, but the concept is all just introductory.

  2. Karla

    I never knew ashes were a thing until we moved here and were around more Catholics. With social media, I’m always surprised at how many Lutheran churches do it.

  3. Lauren's mom

    I think it is what you grew up with. My childhood pastor never did it, and my husband didnt do it, so I am uncomfortable with it.

  4. Brad

    Thank you for commenting, Karla and Lauren’s Mom. I’ve been finding out that a lot of Lutheran churches just never did it until more recently. And now that I’m thinking about it, I’m not sure that I ever did it as a kid.

    I talked with the pastor about it, and he said it wasn’t some big deal. He wanted to do Communion, and thought doing both would be too long. There was also the logistical issue of getting or making ashes. He just decided not include it.

    • Auntie Linda

      Have never received ashes! Home church didn’t do that.

  5. Debbie

    I think it is a more recent deal….i think i was i’m college when it started but not sure? Interesting concept and powerful but i guess not needed. Yes, nice forehead shot.

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