Fayetteville pastors offer ashes at a meal for the homeless. Things to know about Lent.

Myron B. Pitts, The Fayetteville Observer
·3 min read
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Eight pastors from seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 22, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch, a downtown nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC, that serves the homeless and people in need.
Eight pastors from seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 22, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch, a downtown nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC, that serves the homeless and people in need.

Eight pastors representing seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday morning at Operation Inasmuch. The Christian-centered nonprofit downtown serves the homeless population and others who are in need, and serves breakfast on weekdays.

The Rev. Rob James has organized the event since 2018, but this year was different, he said. Just about everybody he called said yes immediately.

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“Maybe COVID has helped us to realize how much we need one another,” said James, pastor of First Baptist Church on Anderson Street.

The Rev. Dorothy McNeil, staff assistant minister at First Baptist Church on Moore Street., administers ashes to a guest at Operation Inasmuch. Eight pastors from seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 22, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch, a downtown nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC, that serves the homeless and people in need.
The Rev. Dorothy McNeil, staff assistant minister at First Baptist Church on Moore Street., administers ashes to a guest at Operation Inasmuch. Eight pastors from seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 22, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch, a downtown nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC, that serves the homeless and people in need.

The other pastors were: the Rev. Robert M. Alves, St. John’s Episcopal Church; Dr. Mike Garrett, First Presbyterian Church; the Rev. Dr. Orin Gill Sr., St. Luke AME Church; Bishop John Godbolt, One Church Covenant Fellowship; the Rev. David Woodhouse, Hay Street United Methodist Church; the Rev. Selvyn A. Lindo, Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church; and the Rev. Dorothy McNeil, staff assistant minister, First Baptist Church on Moore Street.

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The pastors shared Biblical scripture and circulated, offering ashes. James played guitar and sang hymns. Other volunteers served meals.

The pastors talked about the meaning and importance of Ash Wednesday, which starts the season of Lent.

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Here are a few things to know about these two events that lead to Easter on April 9.

Eight pastors from seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 22, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch, a downtown nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC, that serves the homeless and people in need. From left are the Rev. Dorothy McNeil, staff assistant minister, First Baptist Church on Moore Street; the Rev. David Woodhouse, Hay Street United Methodist Church; the Rev. Robert James, First Baptist Church on Anderson Street; the Rev. Dr. Orin Gill, Sr., St. Luke AME Church; the Rev. Robert M. Alves, St. John’s Episcopal Church; Dr. Mike Garrett, First Presbyterian Church; Bishop John Godbolt, One Church Covenant Fellowship; and the Rev. Selvyn A. Lindo, Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church.

What is Ash Wednesday?

For the service, the pastors drew ashes in the shape of a cross onto people’s foreheads or hands.

Godbolt said the ceremony is a call for Christians to really look at themselves and to realize, “We’ve messed up.”

“Thinking about ashes, which has to do with, we all came from ashes and we will return to ashes,” he said.

Bishop John Goldbolt of One Church Covenant Fellowship recites scripture during morning breakkast at Operation Inasmuch. Eight pastors from seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 22, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch, a downtown nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC, that serves the homeless and people in need.
Bishop John Goldbolt of One Church Covenant Fellowship recites scripture during morning breakkast at Operation Inasmuch. Eight pastors from seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 22, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch, a downtown nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC, that serves the homeless and people in need.

He said it carried back to early church traditions when people wore sackcloth and ashes to express repentance.

“You either put it on your head or on your right hand as a symbol of, ‘I am accepting the ashes as a symbol of not being perfect.’”

People are not compelled to wear the ashes, which are usually burned from palm leaves.

James said about half the people chose to wear ashes on Wednesday.

What is Lent all about?

Lent is a season of reflection and preparation for Christians leading up to Easter. Godbolt said Lent represents Jesus’ final 40 days on earth and the trials he endured. Some but not all Christians choose to make their own sacrifices during Lent, he said.

“We make sacrifices of giving up some things that are special to us, whether its foods or certain activities,” he said.

The Rev. Rob James of First Baptist Church on Anderson Street plays and sings. Eight pastors from seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 22, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch, a downtown nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC, that serves the homeless and people in need.
The Rev. Rob James of First Baptist Church on Anderson Street plays and sings. Eight pastors from seven Christian denominations held an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 22, 2023, at Operation Inasmuch, a downtown nonprofit in Fayetteville, NC, that serves the homeless and people in need.

So where does Easter fit into all of this?

Easter is one of the two most important days on the Christian calendar, along with Christmas.

James said the resurrection of Christ after his death on the cross shows the story does not end when we die.

He praised the spirit and fellowship he saw in the Ash Wednesday service.

He said a woman approached him in the parking lot to say: “I feel so good to have this cross on my head.”

Myron Pitts can be reached at mpitts@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3559.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville pastors offer ashes at a meal for the homeless. Things to know about Lent.