Hawkins United Methodist Church pastor the Rev. Austin Hoyle and the Hawkins Drive Thru Prayer team will host an Ash Wednesday Drive Thru Blessing Wednesday from 7 to 9 a.m. at the church.

“This is the first time we’re doing this; we are going to be offering a prayer and a blessing (to drivers) on Ash Wednesday,” Hoyle said. “We’re also going to be offering the imposition of the ashes for those who would like to come by before work, before school.

“Before they begin their day, they can come on and drive through the parking lot of Hawkins United Methodist Church and they can get a special prayer, a special blessing and they can get the ashes imposed on their forehead.”

Hoyle said the ashes can be imposed on the person while they remain in the car.

The ashes, he said, symbolize the readiness people have to prepare their hearts for the season of Lent “to more intentionally focus on our relationship with Jesus Christ.”

The prayer team will be located in the church’s large parking lot that faces Halls Ferry Road.

Hoyle said the prayer team holds a drive-through service one Thursday every month from 7 to 9 a.m.

“It’s an intentional time to give a blessing to anyone in the community who would like to drive through and get a blessing,” he said.