Local churches bring some glitter to Ash Wednesday

By Alissa Anderegg

While Ash Wednesday has been practiced for centuries, a new national movement, Glitter Ash Wednesday, is making it more colorful in support of LGBTQ communities. Two local churches, Unity Lutheran Church in Edgewater and Berry United Methodist Church in Lincoln Square, are participating by providing ashes mixed with makeup-grade purple glitter at CTA stops and at Ash Wednesday services.

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Photo at top: Unity Lutheran Church pastor Fred Kinsey holds purple glitter ashes in preparation for Glitter Ash Wednesday. (Alissa Anderegg/MEDILL)