Faith exhibited: Pioneer Presbyterian Marks Start of Lent with ash Wednesday | News, sports, jobs

Marvin Trippett, in the Parkersburg, returns to his bank after the impression of ashes on the forehead during an ash on Wednesday afternoon in the Cross -Roads Church in Weverly. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Belpre – The Pioneer Presbyterian Church offered members of the community the opportunity to observe the beginning of Lent outside the traditional ash on Wednesday and the church building.

The passage service, which initially began in 2020 during the Covid 19 pandemic, has become a tradition that enables those who cannot take part in the evening in order to maintain ash on the forehead and to start their Lent.

“I started it during Covid, and it continued because people felt sensible”, “ Pastor Rick Hastings said.

The evening in the evening of the ash, which took place in Rockland Church, brought together several municipalities from the Belpre Ministerial Alliance Fellowship. The scholarship, which has been active for over 30 years, plays a crucial role in the organization of joint services in the course of the year. In addition to the ASH Wednesday, they organize joint services for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Sonnen entrance service at the Fairview Cemetery. This tradition also emerged during pandemic and has become a popular annual meeting since then.

“What better place is there for the resurrection message than the cemetery?” Said Hastings. “I stood in front of the crosses and conveyed my message and she found it so deep that we have been continuing since then.”

Pastor Rick Hastings, left, put Ashes in the parishion of Tim Wilson during an outdoor service on Wednesday in the Pioneer Presbyterian Church on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Pioneer Presbyterian's commitment to public relations in the community goes beyond the services. The digital sign of the church, which is located near the Belpre Campus of Memorial Health Systems, offers encouragement words for those who have difficulties.

“There are people who sit in this hospital, look out of the window and see this church, see the cross and find comfort.” Said Hastings. “That's why we are here: to remind people that they are not alone.”

Two churches made themselves available on Wednesday in Ohio and West Virginia in Ohio and West Virginia on the Ash Wednesday services.

A lunch service was offered in the Cross -Roads Church in Weverly, where Rev. Erin is Pastor. For those who couldn't do it or could prefer an evening service, one was planned for 7 p.m. in the Sand Hill Methodist Church in Reno, where her husband, Rev. Jeremy Daniels, is a pastor.

“Ascher Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a time of reflection (in which we search our hearts and pull closer to God.” Said Erin Daniels.

The Rev. Erin Daniels, pastor of the Cross -Roads Church in Weverly, makes the sign of the cross with ash on the forehead of the church member Sally Leach during a ash on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

During the lunch service, Jeremy Daniels informed the almost 20 people in the community that the service offered the opportunity to take into account the Lent to start instead of a chance to publish a selfie with an ash promoted cross on the forehead.

“It is not for a show, but an opportunity to share with our community what God does in our lives.” he said.

Rod Schoolcraft, member of the CrossRoads Church, said he likes to visit on the Wednesday service because it marks the beginning of a time of self -reflection.

“It is a kind of repetition a year that leads to Easter.” he said.

City Editor Evan Bevins contributed to this story.

The Rev. Erin Daniels, Pastor of the CrossRoads Church in Weverly, makes the sign of the cross with ash on her son Michael Gibson's forehead, as Daniel's husband, Rev. Jeremy Daniels, on Wednesday during a Wednesday service. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com

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At the beginning of Lent, the Pioneer Presbyterian Church and the Belpre Ministerial Alliance Fellowship invite the community to take part in upcoming services.

Include the upcoming services:

* Maundy Thursday – 7 p.m. April 17th in the Mullen Memorial Church

* Good Friday – 7 p.m. April 18 in the Belpre Nazarene Church

* Sunrise service – Sunday, April 20, 7 a.m. on the Fairview Memory Garden Cemetery

* Easter service – Morning service in the Pioneer Presbyterian Church on Sunday, April 20, at 9:30 a.m.