Ash Wednesday Imposition of Ashes • February 17 • 7:00 pm
Pohick Church is offering a traditional Ash Wednesday Liturgy via Zoom. Because of infection and death rates from COVID-19, in-person gatherings are not yet possible. As an alternative, safe way to receive Ashes, parishioners can prepare ashes in advance and apply ashes to themselves during the Ash Wednesday Service.
According to the Diocese of Virginia, any baptized person, including children or teens, may place ashes on the foreheads of others in their home. Since the imposition of ashes is not a Sacrament, you do not have to be ordained or licensed to impose ashes on yourself or others.
Home Preparation for Ash Wednesday: At home, prior to the service, prepare a small amount of ashes. Adults can burn a small piece of wood, or palm frond from a previous Palm Sunday, or even a piece of paper to produce a small pile of ashes. At the appointed time during the Ash Wednesday service, the designated family member will dip his/her thumb into the ashes and impose ashes on foreheads in the sign of the cross. (Smudges are fine; this is not art!) The appointed time for ashes occurs after the readings, the homily, and the call to a Holy Lent. As soon as the Officiant says a prayer blessing the ashes, the designated person imposes the ashes, saying, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
The link to the Zoom meeting will be emailed. If you would like to be added to the email list, please email Carmel Hodge, carmel.hodge@pohick.org, or call the church office, 703-339-6572.