Accessible ashes for all in Milton

Zion Church continues drive-through Ash Wednesday tradition

Don Foraker pulls up across from Zion United Methodist Church on Broadkill Road in Milton to get ashes to go. Pat Bollinger, Zion pastor, left, and Katie Joseph are there to perform the Ash Wednesday tradition Feb. 18. BILL SHULL PHOTOS

Sandy Muir of Milton is the first to take advantage of this year’s ashes-to-go event at Zion United Methodist Church. Muir talks with Pastor Pat Bollinger on the side of Broadkill Road.

Getting ashes from Pastor Pat Bollinger is a family affair for the Berry family from Milton.

Terry Wilkinson of Lewes, left, receives ashes from Kim Raynes, while Fay Burnham looks on and cars rush by.

Pastor Pat Bollinger gives ashes to Tim Muir of Milton.

Bill Shull

February 18, 2026

Event Date:

Wed, 02/18/2026 - 09:45 am

Sandy Muir of Milton is the first to take advantage of this year’s ashes-to-go event at Zion United Methodist Church. Muir talks with Pastor Pat Bollinger on the side of Broadkill Road.

Getting ashes from Pastor Pat Bollinger is a family affair for the Berry family from Milton.

Terry Wilkinson of Lewes, left, receives ashes from Kim Raynes, while Fay Burnham looks on and cars rush by.

Pastor Pat Bollinger gives ashes to Tim Muir of Milton.

For the third year in a row, Zion United Methodist Church gave people a reason to pull over on Broadkill Road near Milton.

The church held an Ash Wednesday ashes-to-go event Feb. 18.

People stopped in front of the church, rolled down their windows and received a traditional blessing and cross.

“It’s very convenient, isn’t it?” said Sandy Muir.

She and her husband were the first to stop when the event kicked off at 11 a.m.

This year, nine cars came by; a total of 16 people got ashes on their foreheads.

“The first year, few customers came. Now, more and more people are coming that we don’t know,” Pastor Pat Bollinger said. “Our hope is to share the love of Jesus.”

Pastor Pat, as Bollinger is known, was also doing drive-thru ashes at her other two churches, Indian Mission United Methodist Church in Millsboro and Goshen United Methodist Church in Milton.

Sandy Muir of Milton is the first to take advantage of this year’s ashes-to-go event at Zion United Methodist Church. Muir talks with Pastor Pat Bollinger on the side of Broadkill Road.

Getting ashes from Pastor Pat Bollinger is a family affair for the Berry family from Milton.

Terry Wilkinson of Lewes, left, receives ashes from Kim Raynes, while Fay Burnham looks on and cars rush by.

Pastor Pat Bollinger gives ashes to Tim Muir of Milton.