Hello
It is just chat i promise. For those of us who go to Church within the Anglican - Roman Catholic churches be more than aware it was Ash Wednesday this last week.
One of the services that i am not too happy about. I really dislike the Ashing part. Where they place the sign of the cross on the forehead. I would always go home with headache somehow because it felt like cold ash on hot skin.
I go somewhere different now to where I used to go and being enourage a little to be me. On Monday I had asked that Preist is it possible to be Ashed without being Ashed. He said he think about it as didn't know. I was going to the service the Assistant Priest was doing.
On the Wednesday I took in a little handheld cross i got and was out of the house all day through various things and I did my own thinking too. The Priest told me he has emailed the has assistant priest with my request, who both seem to understand me well. Phew but what did I want exactly. I didn't know but the first hurdle in that at least they knew. The Priest has a newphew who is with autism as the asssistant priest has a brother and both seem outwardly communciating with me and meeting my own needs without me seeming to be different or anything.
That evening it took me three attempts to try and put my request over without knowing what it was. In between the third and fourth attempt I had sat in my usual seat and suddenly realised that I had brought in my handheld cross. He could Ash that instead of me. Being aware I had already spoken to him 3 times and the service was just about to start I asked him anyway and gave him the cross. He agreed easily. Phew. It was the best Ash Wednesday service I have had and didn't go home with headache. I few private tears as I was sorting out what i actually wanted to happen and a little bit fearful in asking because he could say no. Be unlikely considering who he was and they are a team who like to make things accessible and possible.
But thank you as I went home happy and resolved something for the future. All future Ash services, the Ashing can be done onto the handheld cross certainly whilst those priests are around and hopefully by the time of the next priest I will be able to ask ahead of day rather than a minute before the service is due to start and a tip for anyone reading this if you or your children don't like the Ashing being done, through sensitivity of touch or whatever reason, ask the priest if they would do so to the handheld cross you give them instead of you. He took mine and placed it on the communion tray and did that after he done everyone.
Very happy and hope the tip might be useful for someone somewhere