Sewickley pastors partner to distribute ashes on the go

The Rev. Hannah Loughman and the Rev. Ryan Kobert believe in the importance of bringing the church to the people. The pastors did just that on the drizzly morning of March 5.

Stationed at the Wolcott Park Gazebo on Broad Street in Sewickley, they invited anyone passing by to stop and take a few minutes for prayer and receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. It’s a collaboration ministry they’ve been doing for years.

Loughman is pastor at Sewickley United Methodist Church; Kobert is pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” each pastor said as they used an index finger to dip in ashes and form a cross on the forehead of people from various denominations who recognize Ash Wednesday as the start of Lent.

Those who partake in Ash Wednesday are Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, most Methodists, some Baptists, some Presbyterians and some Episcopalians.

Those who observe receive ashes in the shape of a cross on the forehead. Some people fast and abstain from meat and go to confession.

Ashes are an ancient ritual — the sign of ashes represents human mortality, said Kobert.

Lent is a time to prepare for Easter and is 40 days long, not counting Sundays.

“We know a lot of people are working and have other things going on and might not have time to come to a full church service,” Kobert said. “That’s why we are out here.”

Breonna Frisk of Sewickley, a member of SUMC, said this was perfect timing.

“It felt good to focus for a few minutes on what today is,” said Frisk.

Kobert said partnering with other churches in the area is about fellowship and a way to bring people together from different congregations. St. Paul’s, Sewickley United Methodist, St. Matthews AME Zion and Sewickley Presbyterian are ecumenical partners, which means different denominations working together. The churches held a community worship service later that night at Sewickley United Methodist Church.

One of the best parts about being outside for the Ashes on the Go gives them the opportunity to meet new people, Kobert said. Loughman said she enjoys this way of distributing ashes because it gives her time to talk with the people who stop by.

Over the years, the pastors said they’ve distributed ashes to people walking their dogs and to a bus driver or someone who works nearby and spotted them from the office window.