It is hard to express what drive-thru ashes is like until you experience it. You have the exuberance of teens greeting folks that drive up in their vehicles on St. Martin’s campus. There’s a short, personal connection with people as they receive ashes and prayers. Often, people share other prayer concerns and it becomes a time to care for our neighbors. It’s simply a holy moment.

This bright, sunny afternoon brought 7 teens to help with drive-thru ashes.


This year, teens greeted 68 people as they drove through St. Martin’s church parking lot for drive-thru ashes. Teens gave bookmarks with a prayer and information about our church and school.
Many drive-thru participants took the time to tell our volunteers how much this ministry means to them. Several people told our group that they couldn’t make it to a service and that it was important for them to begin the season of Lent in a prayerful way. Others shared that they were too ill to attend church, but wanted to be a part of Ash Wednesday.

Thank you for the drive thru ashes. It sounds silly every time I say it, but it wasn’t silly at all. It really meant a lot to me to be able to participate. You made that possible. (I would have said so at the time, but it would have been through tears.)

Drive-thru ashes is a way for us to fulfill our mission at St. Martin’s: to be Jesus Christ’s heart, hands and feet to our neighbors no matter where they are on their journey of faith. See ya next year!