After our first Glitter Ash Wednesday in 2017, we put together some of the 5 million press impressions and mentions from around the world. Have you shared your photos and stories with us? If not, please do - email us!

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Glitter Ash Wednesday a tremendous success!

What's being called the "nationwide Glitter Ash Wednesday movement"

Dear Parity friend -

Your loving support has provided a visible and tangible witness to love for LGBTQ+ people of faith and their allies - all over the world!

Parity staff and volunteers shipped ashes for 15,000 people in 29 states and three countries, to 12 different denominations and 150 sites - including Lake View Presbyterian Church in Chicago, pictured above. Until we ran out! And then we told people how to make them.

Thanks to you, we all are showing the world that faith and LGBTQ+ DO go together, and in fact, that LGBTQ+ people of faith bless the world with their work and witness.

Watch for a more full report, but for now, here are some photos, press highlights (click on the images to read the articles), plus one of the many emails we received from participants. It is a blessing to us all to see God's work in the world!

First, thank you. I pastor in Northampton Massachusetts at First Churches, a 350 something year old church that was once pastored by Jonathan Edwards.

I stood outside on the sidewalk in front of our church for an hour at noon and offered people ashes. I’ve done this for the last 3 years, but this year was different. If people stopped, I told them I had regular ashes and glitter ashes in solidarity with the queer Christian community. If they wanted to know more, I told them that if anyone can teach us how to live with boldness and flair and courage in the face of death, it is the queer community. But I think these glitter ashes are also important because so much of our sin is based in our fear and all too often we project that fear onto the other. These ashes are a reminder to see the the spark of divinity in everyone’s frail humanity.

People’s responses varied from tears to joy to one woman who said, “@#$% yeah! I’m for the glitter ashes.” Even for those who ultimately declined, it was a sign of hope and inclusion and the church being the church in the world with gentleness and love. I spoke the traditional words over each head - “remember your are dust and to dust you shall return,” and then blessed each person by name telling them that though they were only dust and matter, they were dust of great matter to God.

It was the most meaningful Ash Wednesday for me so far and I thank you for this opportunity to witness with winsomeness to the unconditional love of God.

Bless you,
Sarah

Ash Wednesday homily by Fr Joe Ciccone, 2017

Ashes for All, Des Moines, Iowa

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