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Photos and stories from Ashes to Go 2020

Canon Clark giving Ashes to Go at the Cathedral. NINA NICHOLSON PHOTO
Canon Clark giving Ashes to Go at the Cathedral. NINA NICHOLSON PHOTO

Several churches shared their Ashes to Go photos and stories.

Patricia Bradley of Holy Trinity, Hillsdale:

So many takers this morning that we literally lost count. Busiest we’ve been since we started doing this!

Dave Ackerman of St. Bartholomew's, Ho-Ho-Kus:

The Rev. Cathie Studwell and Wardens Michael Gnerre and Kathy Gabrielle gave Ashes to Go at the Ho-Ho-Kus NJ Transit station. From 6:45 AM till 8:45 AM, about eight people received ashes, but over a dozen enjoyed our hot coffee, and many more appreciated our friendly "Good Morning!" on this dreary day.

The Rev. Kathryn King of St. Alban's, Oakland/Franklin Lakes:

I offered a service for our preschool children and their families at the end of the morning session. I had been doing Ashes to Go for a few years but realized I was doing teaching because some kids were fearful. So I decided to offer a short service without Eucharist that parents could sign up their kids to attend or could come back early for pick up and attend with them. Last year I had eight kids and no parents. This year I had 22 kids and 17 parents and grandparents! None were parishioners because I do a children and family observance in late afternoon. These two services are now my largest services of the four that I do.

The Rev. Elizabeth Searle of Church of Our Saviour, Secaucus:

This article (Secaucus Episcopal Church Gives Out Ashes For Ash Wednesday, published the day before Ash Wednesday) made a huge difference as we stood in front of the CVS at the Plaza Center Mall in Secaucus. Indeed, there were people waiting in line when I got there, made 10 minutes late because I answered phone calls coming into the church for more information. (Fortunately, a couple of our people were already in place). We distributed ashes to as many as 70 people over two hours, all of them exclaiming over the fact that church was coming to them.

And, St. Stephen's, Millburn's Ashes to Go was covered by the local media: Local Church Offers Ashes to Go at Millburn Train Station.

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