Church offers Ash Wednesday drive-through: ‘Ashes to Go’

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- These days, drive-throughs offer a little bit of everything. You can get a burger and fries at a fast-food restaurant, make a deposit at the bank or pick up your dry cleaning.

But here’s something new. Midway United Methodist Church in Alpharetta is opening a drive-through service for Ash Wednesday. It’s called “Ashes to Go.”

“We know that people are busy, so we want to make it easy for them to stay connected and grounded in their faith,” said Midway United Methodist Church’s senior pastor Jennie Andone. “It’s important to take things that traditionally happen inside the church sanctuary out into the community.”

Participants can drive up, roll down their window, receive the ashes and someone from the church will pray with them. The drive-through service starts at 6:30 a.m. and lasts an hour. It’s ideal for people headed to work or school. The church will hand out donuts and coffee, too.

“They don’t even have to park or get out of their cars,“ Andone said.

Ashes are available to anyone who asks - participants do not need to be a member of the Midway church.

Ash Wednesday is the traditional start of the season of Lent, the six weeks before Easter spent reflecting and spiritually preparing for Christ’s resurrection on Easter.

The church also offers Ash Wednesday worship services at noon and 7 p.m. in its historic chapel.

The church campus is located at 5025 Atlanta Highway in Alpharetta, at the corner of Highway 9 and Campground Road.

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