(Photo by Gwen Sour) Pastor Rick Hastings, left, places ashes onto congregation member Tim Wilson during an Ash Wednesday outdoor service at Pioneer Presbyterian Church Wednesday afternoon.

BELPRE — Pioneer Presbyterian Church offered members of the community an opportunity to observe the beginning of Lent outside of the traditional evening Ash Wednesday service – and the church building.

The drive-through service, initially started in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a tradition that allows those unable to attend in the evening to receive ashes on their forehead and begin their Lenten journey.

“I started this during COVID, and it has continued because people have found it meaningful,” Pastor Rick Hastings said.

The evening Ash Wednesday service, held at Rockland Church, brought together multiple congregations from the Belpre Ministerial Alliance Fellowship. The fellowship, which has been active for over 30 years, plays a crucial role in organizing shared services throughout the year. In addition to Ash Wednesday, they host joint services for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter sunrise service at Fairview Cemetery. This tradition also originated during the pandemic and has since become a beloved annual gathering.

“What better place to have the resurrection message than the cemetery,” Hastings said. “I stood in front of the crosses and delivered my message, and it resonated so deeply with people that we’ve continued it ever since.”

(Photo by Evan Bevins) The Rev. Erin Daniels, pastor of Crossroads Church in Waverly, makes the sign of the cross with ashes on the forehead of church member Sally Leach during an Ash Wednesday service Wednesday afternoon.

Pioneer Presbyterian’s commitment to community outreach extends beyond worship services. The church’s digital sign, located near the Belpre Campus of Memorial Health Systems, offers words of encouragement to those facing hardship.

“There are people sitting in that hospital right now, looking out the window and seeing this church, seeing the cross and finding comfort,” Hastings said. “That’s why we’re here: to remind people they’re not alone.”

Two churches teamed up to provide Ash Wednesday service options for congregations in Ohio and West Virginia on Wednesday.

A noon service was offered at Crossroads Church in Waverly, where the Rev. Erin Daniels is pastor. For those who couldn’t make it or preferred an evening service, one was slated for 7 p.m. at Sand Hill Methodist Church in Reno, where her husband, the Rev. Jeremy Daniels, is pastor.

“Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent, a time of reflection (in which) we search our hearts and draw closer to God,” Erin Daniels said.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) The Rev. Erin Daniels, pastor of Crossroads Church in Waverly, makes the sign of the cross with ashes on the forehead of her son, Michael Gibson, as Daniels’ husband, the Rev. Jeremy Daniels, watches during an Ash Wednesday service Wednesday.

During the noon service, Jeremy Daniels told the nearly 20 people in the congregation the service provided an opportunity to consider the Lenten journey about to start rather than a chance to post a selfie with an ashen cross on their forehead.

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

Crossroads Church member Rod Schoolcraft said he likes to attend the Ash Wednesday service because it marks the beginning of a time of self-reflection.

“It’s kind of a re-beginning in the year, leading up to Easter,” he said.

City Editor Evan Bevins contributed to this story.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Parkersburg resident Marvin Trippett walks back to his pew following the imposition of ashes on his forehead during an Ash Wednesday service Wednesday afternoon at Crossroads Church in Waverly.