Pastors to offer ‘Ashes to Go’ on Oak Park streets Feb. 22

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Updated: February 22, 2012 12:09PM

Pastors and priests from Oak Park and River Forest will take to the streets on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, to offer Ash Wednesday rites marking the beginning of Lent.

At 7 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, you will be able to find “Ashes to Go” at many train stations: Oak Park Avenue Green and Blue Lines, Green Line and Metra Station at Harlem Avenue. At noon “Ashes to Go” will be present at Marion and Lake streets in Oak Park. From 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. “Ashes to Go” will be offered near Lincoln Elementary School right by Christ Church, 515 Franklin Ave., in River Forest.

The ministers taking to the streets are:

• the Rev. Kathy Nolte from Good Shepherd Lutheran, River Forest;

• the Rev. Julie Ruth Harley from First United, Oak Park;

• the Rev. Parish Coffey from St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Oak Park;

• the Rev. Pete Campbell from Christ Church, River Forest;

• the Rev. Shawn Schreiner from Grace Episcopal, Oak Park; and

• the Rev. Kelly Faulstich from Grace Lutheran Church and School, River Forest.

They will be joined by members of their congregations.

The Rev. Shawn M. Schreiner brought the idea, that started in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago by the The Rev. Emily Mellott, rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in Lombard.

The initiative called “Ashes to Go,” is meant to reach people who can’t attend church services, where ashes are places on the forehead in the shape of the cross. The Rev. Schreiner mentioned that this will be her third year to take to the streets with this important religious symbol and has found it to be an amazingly powerful ministry. People are searching for the spiritual and this happens to be a symbol that so many people yearn for. Jesus was always going to the people and so will area pastors and lay members. Schreiner also mentioned that the group is very respectful of other religious traditions and states that this is in done in such a way that those for whom this religious symbol is important will know that it is available to them in the middle of winter.

For more information, call the Rev. Shawn M. Schreiner at (708) 386-8036.