Regardless of the method chosen the Officiant should stress adherence to COVID safety protocols especially the wearing of masks and social distancing throughout the entire service. With these guiding principles in mind here are three suggestions:ġ) Many Christians have decided to avoid physical contact while reverting to a very ancient practice of sprinkling ashes on the top of worshippers’ heads as our brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church are doing.Ģ) The use of a q-tip, makeup wedge, or other similar object (a new one for each person) in the hand of the Officiant in order to place the traditional sign of the cross on the forehead of worshippers.ģ) Understanding that the Ash Wednesday rubrics allow the service to be led by a lay person (BCP, 269), the Officiant makes ashes available in small containers for self-imposition by individuals or families. Join us at the start of your day to hear the invitation to observe a Holy Lent and to receive the reminder of. ⦁ The need for honoring our COVID safety protocols Ash Wednesday Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes. They could then bring the container forward to the leaders at the time of the imposition of ashes and receive the ashes from their own creative effort. ⦁ Maintaining the meaning and reverence of the ritual Two guiding principles have gone into this discussion:

Many clergy have asked for ideas for the imposition of ashes. The imposition of Ashes during the Ash Wednesday service is a cherished part of our Ash Wednesday liturgy as a profound sign of our repentance at the beginning of Lent.

The imposition of ashes