Drivers receive ashes to go on Ash Wednesday

Grace Lutheran Church in Long Beach continued its tradition of offering ashes to go on Ash Wednesday.

This year, the event happened in the parking area near the Jim Simpson Pier in Long Beach. Drivers pulled up to receive prayer and the symbolic cross on their forehead to signify the start of Lent which runs until Holy Week.

Pastor David Parr said, “A lot of the people that come by here are on their way to work and some of them are saying that they really appreciate having this opportunity to come by and it only takes less than a minute. We give a blessing and impose the ashes, so they can be on their way to work or if they have other things going on. One lady was on her way to the airport to catch a plane, so we didn’t take a lot of time so she wouldn’t be late. But it just means people can still experience the meaning of Ash Wednesday and lent and still go on with their busy day.”

This was Pastor Parr’s eleventh year participating in the event.