Leechburg church uses Ash Wednesday stickers to tweak its ‘Ashes to Go’ ministry

Joyce Hanz | Wednesday, February 17, 2021 7:28 p.m.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

The Revs. Gary and Lisa Lyon, co-pastors at Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church in Leechburg, offering “Ashes to Go” in sticker form due to covid-19 restrictions outside their church on Main Street during Ash Wednesday.

Even Ash Wednesday isn’t immune to a pandemic, but even a pandemic can’t stop Ash Wednesday.

One Leechburg church didn’t let covid-19 restrictions stop its annual “Ashes to Go” ministry Wednesday.

The Revs. Gary and Lisa Lyon, co-pastors at Cross Roads Community Presbyterian Church, started “Ashes to Go” in 2016, offering ashes on the street to the public.

It’s quick and convenient, but covid times call for creative measures, even with religious rituals.

So this year, the married ministers provided stickers to each person, offering a no-contact experience, instead of the usual smudged ashes applied with a finger to the forehead.

“We didn’t want to cancel our yearly public distribution of ashes, but we were concerned about the social distancing we believe we need,” Gary Lyon said.

The couple purchased stickers online with an Ash Wednesday cross and words from the Scriptures on them to hand out to each participant after a short prayer.

“This is a first because we can’t touch anybody, but we wanted people to have a visible sign because that’s why they come to Ash Wednesday,” Lisa Lyon said. “We thought the stickers were appropriate and people have a visible sign of repentance.”

She said normally about 40 people show up for Ashes to Go.

This year, people stood waiting outside as the pastors arrived to set up their table on the sidewalk on the corner of Main and First streets.

Masks and social distancing were required.

Usually the event takes place in two locations — outside CoCo Coffeehouse on Market Street and later in front of the church — but this year was scaled back due to the pandemic.

“People so much want to be in worship and do the things they traditionally do,” Lisa Lyon said.

This nontraditional way of receiving ashes was started by Episcopal clergy in 2007.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and is celebrated by many Christians with fasting, penitence and, normally, the traditional application of ashes on one’s forehead.

Ed Fitzgerald, 83, of Washington Township said his faith motivated him to participate.

“This is my first time doing this. Under the circumstances, it’s OK,” Fitzgerald said.

Gary Lyon said ministering during covid brings a unique perspective to their pastoral perspective.

“Ash Wednesday and Lent will be seen as a much-needed period of repentance and renewal for everything that has transpired in the last year and the stresses and strains that the present world is throwing at us,” he said.

Skip Eshelman, 77, of Gilpin never misses Ashes to Go and took his sticker with him instead of wearing it.

“I’m going to keep it on my kitchen table while I have dinner tonight,” Eshelman said. “This is a good accommodation for those that work varying hours.”