Religion

Get your Ash Wednesday blessing ‘to go’ in downtown Gulfport

Sun Herald
The Rev. Rod Dickson-Rishel of First United Methodist Church in Long Beach administers ashes to Paul Brosslett Jr. as he sits in a vehicle in March 2014. Those who need ashes on Ash Wednesday can get their blessing and mark “to go” in front Hancock Bank in downtown Gulfport from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14.
The Rev. Rod Dickson-Rishel of First United Methodist Church in Long Beach administers ashes to Paul Brosslett Jr. as he sits in a vehicle in March 2014. Those who need ashes on Ash Wednesday can get their blessing and mark “to go” in front Hancock Bank in downtown Gulfport from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Amanda McCoy amccoy@sunherald.com File

Sometimes it looks just like a cross. But it could also look like the letter “x,” a patch of dirt or a black blob.

But how it looks doesn’t matter — for those that celebrate Ash Wednesday, what matters is the mark is there.

For people in South Mississippi who can’t attend Ash Wednesday services, the Rev. Patrick Sanders and the Rev. Stephen Kidd will dispense “Ashes To Go” in front of Hancock Bank in downtown Gulfport.

Sanders and Kidd will be giving blessings and marking foreheads Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Sanders will talk more about “Ashes To Go” on Sun Herald’s Clark Cast at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day this year. An Oxford, Mississippi, priest went viral for his Facebook post about how to do to both by using a Ryan Gosling “Hey Girl” meme.

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