Making Ashes at Home
Planning to participate in the 7:00 p.m. online Ash Wednesday service on February 17? Here are some ideas for making or finding ashes.
- Traditionally, the ashes used in church are made by burning the dried palms from last year’s Palm Sunday. Some people save palms from year to year; if you happen to have a palm at home, you can burn it (please be careful and use a fireproof vessel).
- You might take a piece of paper and write or draw some things you are praying for, or things you want to let go of, this Lent. You can do this individually or as a household. Then carefully burn your paper into ash.
- You can use a bit of crushed-up charcoal, if you have charcoal available. Or, if you don’t have access to any ashes or charcoal, you may substitute a handful of earth.
Worshiping at home is different from worshiping together at church—but God is no less present. Using our creativity to adapt our practices for at-home use is one way we can invite God’s presence more deeply into the everyday circumstances of our lives.
Tags: Lent 2024 at Incarnation
