Dear Clergy and Lay Leaders of the Diocese of New Westminster

Ash Wednesday will, once again, be different in this season of pandemic. We may be able to gather on site; we may need to remain home and gather online. We will know more about this on or before February 5 when the current no-gathering order expires. Our belief is that it’s highly likely that the no-gathering order will continue.

Whether in-person or not, we do know this:

This year clergy are not to administer ashes on parishioner’s foreheads.

And so we offer the following options for Ash Wednesday:

Here are some responses to common questions. We have the opportunity to experiment while holding the values of respect, reverence, simplicity, and even enrichment in our observance.

Parishes can still make their own if parishioners have palm crosses from last year and are able to drop them off or mail them in. This will need to be done a little earlier this year in order to be ready for distribution. St. Andrew’s Church Supply also has ashes available to purchase.

Little 1 oz. containers, called “portion cups” or “condiment cups” with lids are available in dollar stores, Walmart, Amazon.ca etc., and can hold a small portion of ashes. Each household can receive 1 cup along with a card with instructions for imposition and prayer during the liturgy.

If gatherings are permitted in the church, little paper condiment holders with ash inside may also be used and offered for parishioners to pick up from a tray.

No. The rubrics in the Book of Alternative Services are clear. Ashes are optional in the liturgy as stated on pg. 282 “If ashes are used, the following may be said.” and on pg.285 “If ashes are to be imposed…”

A kit for Ash Wednesday, in addition to a portion of ashes, can include a card with instructions, prayer, and words of imposition (see the sample liturgy linked below). You may also wish to include a Q-tip (cotton bud) if people are reluctant to use their fingers.

This is also an opportunity to enrich the observance of the whole season of Lent. You may wish to assemble a “Lent in a Bag” package for households. This article from Building Faith offers one way to do this.. Other possible items include devotionals, Lenten calendars, finger labyrinths, alms (mite) boxes(e.g. PWRDF). Downloadable and printable resources are also available from Illustrated Ministry, Salt Project, and Sanctified Art.

The liturgy does not need to include a celebration of the Eucharist. The rubrics on pg. 286 of the BAS state: “When the Eucharist follows…” If the Eucharist is not celebrated, the liturgy may end with “the Lord’s Prayer, and with one of the forms of Dismissal on p.215, or a blessing, or with the exchange of the Peace.” (pg. 183)

The prayer over the ashes on pg. 285 in the BAS is an optional prayer. It is not a necessity to bless ashes before distributing them either for at home use or in a church.

In Christ,

The Reverend Jessica Schaap, Missioner for Christian Formation

The Reverend Philippa Segrave-Pride, Chair, Mission and Ministry Development Committee