Vienna Church Continues Drive-Thru Ashes Tradition

VIENNA, VA — As Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lent season for some Christian faiths, the pre-pandemic tradition of drive-thru ashes continues at a Vienna church.

Church of the Good Shepherd, a United Methodist church, will hold its Drive-Thru ashes event on Wednesday, Feb. 14 from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. at 2351 Hunter Mill Rd. The church's special anniversary devotional publication will also be handed out at the event.

Ash Wednesday typically involves Christians receiving ash on their forehead on the first day of Lent. The Christian observance of Lent will begin on Wednesday and ends on Thursday, March 28, or Saturday, March 30, depending on the faith.

"We are pleased to offer our Drive-Thru Ashes for our neighbors and community once again as the imposition of ashes in the shape of a cross on our foreheads marks the beginning of our Lenten journey," said Pastor Eric Song. "A special Valentine to those who come in the morning or to our evening worship service will be our 25th annual Lenten booklet along with coffee and cookies."

Later that day, Church of the Good Shepherd will hold a traditional Ash Wednesday service at 7:30 p.m. in person and online. Regular Sunday services with Holy Communion are at 10:15 a.m. in person and online.

The church's special Lent publication includes several devotions from its first edition and a devotion by Rev. Jim Noland, who was pastor when the booklet launched in 2000. Song hopes the publication will serve as "meaningful, even if you are from a different faith tradition."

"We believe we all can learn from another. These stories are genuine expressions of our life experiences," said Song.

About 4,000 copies of the publication will be mailed to homes around the church and will be posted at www.GoodShepherdVA.com and daily at www.Facebook.com/goodshepherdvienna.