Episcopal churches delivering ‘ashes to go’

Episcopal church leaders in Morris County are hitting the road on Wednesday to share a symbolic rite marking the beginning of the Christian holy season of Lent by offering “Ashes to Go” at public locations, ranging from bus and train stations to a Dunkin’ Donuts.

Congregations in at least seven Morris County municipalities are participating in the “Ashes to Go” initiative sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, where the Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith, bishop of Newark, will set the pace by bringing ashes to commuters at Newark’s Penn Station from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

The Rev. Margaret Otterburn, rector of the Church of the Messiah in Chester Township, will begin her outreach even earlier with a visit from 6 to 6:40 a.m. at Dunkin’ Donuts on Route 206 in Chester.

“I was looking for somewhere that was open early and at that hour, this was one of the few places,” said Otterburn, who will participate in the initiative for the fourth straight year.

After dashing back down Route 513 to her church for a 7 a.m. Ash Wednesday service, she will head out once again to offer ashes from 8 to 10 a.m. at Starbuck’s in the Chester Springs Shopping Center.

“I would much rather people would come to the church to worship, but ashes in the street are better than nothing,” she said. “And people seem really happy to receive them.”

The Rev. Tim Carr, priest-in-charge at St. John’s in Boonton, will alternate between the Boonton train station and the Lakeland Bus station near town hall, offering ashes starting about 6:30 a.m. before going to Boonton High School at 7:30 a.m.

“It’s a busy day,” Carr said. “We are a little church in a little town, but last year, we gave ashes to about 168 people. I think they appreciated it.”

Later in the day, Carr will bring ashes to Merry Heart and Victoria Mews senior-care homes in Boonton Township and the New Jersey Fireman’s Home in Boonton.

The Newark Diocese is participating for the fourth year in a nationwide Episcopal Church program launched in 2007 in St. Louis to help initiate the Lenten season of reflection and penitence that precedes Easter.

Episcopalian clergy mark the foreheads of the faithful with the sign of the cross, saying “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Ash Wednesday also is observed by other Christians, including Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Anglicans, Presbyterians and some Baptists.

Elsewhere in Morris County, the Rev. Adele Hatfield, co-rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Lakes, will venture to the busy bus station across Route 46 from Waterview Plaza in Parsippany. Hatfield has offered ashes there for the past four years and at some improvisational locations as well.

“One time after I was at Waterview, I found myself at the bar at the Mountain Lakes Club, and I came across a parishioner who said she had not received ashes,” Hatfield said. “I still had the ashes in my pocket, and I said I could do it right there. After I did, the bartender asked for ashes, so I leaned over the bar and gave him his ashes. Next thing I know there are a couple of waitresses.”

Before she was done, Hatfield was taken to the kitchen, where she gave ashes to a worker with the aid of a translator.

“Part of this is to say that God is in the midst of life, and not confined to a church or building,” Hatfield said.

Railroad passengers also may benefit from the spiritual outreach.

Christ Church in the Budd Lake section of Mount Olive is scheduled to offer ashes to outgoing travelers from 6 to 8 a.m. at the Netcong Train Station, while St. John’s in Dover will be catching up with commuters on their way home from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Dover Train Station. Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Lincoln Park and Montville will be at the Towaco Train Station from 7 to 8 a.m.

Clergy from St. David’s Church in Kinnelon will provide the same service beginning at 5:45 a.m. at the Park & Ride in Newfoundland on Route 23 South, from 6:15 to 7:30 a.m. at the Route 23 South bus station at Meadtown Mall in Kinnelon, and beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Main Street in Butler.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.

For more about the Ashes to Go program, visit ashestogo.org.