Vienna Church Offers Drive-Thru Ashes for Ash Wednesday Commuters

VIENNA, VA — The Church of the Good Shepherd (United Methodist) will offer its annual "Drive-Thru Ashes" on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18.

This event will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the church parking lot located at 2351 Hunter Mill Road. It is situated along the historic Hunter Mill Virginia Byway, providing a convenient stop for morning commuters.

Those who participate will receive the traditional ash mark of the cross on their foreheads. Attendees will also be given a copy of the church’s 27th annual Devotions for Lent booklet. Church members will be present to offer complimentary coffee and cookies as a gesture of hospitality to all who stop.

Pastor Eric Song began the drive-thru ashes tradition in 2017 during his first year at Good Shepherd. He said the event has become a meaningful way to meet people at the start of the Christian season of Lent.

"We’ve found this to be a wonderful opportunity to minister to many of our neighbors," Song said. "In the midst of a busy day, it offers a moment to pause, reflect, and begin the Lenten journey with intention."

Good Shepherd will also conduct a traditional Ash Wednesday service at the church, and online, at 7:30 p.m. The church has been sharing its Devotions for Lent booklet widely since 2000. Approximately 4,000 copies of the booklet are mailed each year to households in neighborhoods surrounding the church.

"Each day offers a devotion to help ground us in love and peace," Song writes in the booklet’s opening letter. "You don’t have to share our traditions to find meaning in these reflections. ... Over the years, our church family and friends have shared heartfelt moments from ordinary life — and I’m reminded daily how much we have in common."

The Devotions for Lent booklet will be available on the church’s website and Facebook page. Printed copies can be obtained by contacting the church office. Weekly gatherings will be held to discuss the devotions. For additional information, contact the church office at 703-281-3987 or visit www.GoodShepherdVA.com or www.Facebook.com/goodshepherdvienna.