Glitter Ash Wednesday

LGBT-friendly churches are planning to mix glitter with the ashes that are imposed on Ash Wednesday.

This “Glitter Ash Wednesday” event is being planned to give “an inclusive message,” showing that LGBT folks can also be Christians. Here is a link to the organizers.

So are those who are receiving ashes, along with the glitter, repenting? That is what ashes and Ash Wednesday and Lent are all about. The message from activists is usually that being LGBT is good, suggesting that there is nothing about this identity to repent about.

When the Cross is smeared on their foreheads, will they receive the words, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return”? That’s about death, the wages of sin. Ash Wednesday is supposed to face up to that. How can you glitter that up?

Will there even be a Cross on the forehead? Would you put glitter on the Cross at Calvary? The Cross is about suffering, sacrifice, atonement. What is the meaning of a glittery Cross, and how can such happy party imagery help a person who is LGBT?

From Michael Gryboski, LGBT Groups Planning ‘Glitter Ash Wednesday’ in 21 States for Lent,, Christian Post:

An LGBT group is launching an Ash Wednesday observance in which they will take the traditional ash cross on the forehead and add glitter to it.

Known as “Glitter Ash Wednesday,” churches from 21 states and Canada will be taking part in the Ash Wednesday event.

“Glitter Ash Wednesday” is being coordinated by the New York-based LGBT group Parity, as well as prominent Episcopal priest, activist and author the Rev. Elizabeth Edman.

The Rev. Marian Edmonds-Allen, executive director of Parity, told The Christian Post that the purpose of Glitter Ash Wednesday is to serve as a witness to an “inclusive Christian message.”

“Ash Wednesday is the most visible day for Christians, a day when ashes mark believers for the world to see,” said Edmonds-Allen.

“The public face of Christianity is often a face of intolerance, especially toward LGBTQ people, yet there are countless LGBT and LGBT-affirming Christians, and millions of Christians who believe that the Gospel commands us to love, not hate.”

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