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. Typical disposal material would include ashes, concrete, paving wastes. All may join in praying All Holy God, our lives are laid open before you: rescue us from the chaos of sin and through the death of your Son bring us healing and make us whole in Jesus Christ our Lord. NHHS Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

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. Advice on the imposition of ashes in church is available in the Lent, Holy Week, and Easter COVID-19 guidance. ⦁ The need for honoring our COVID safety protocols ⦁ 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.

Palmer imposition of ashes services