PRESS PHOTOS BY BEVERLY SPRINGER COVID-19 or no COVID-19, spring and the associated religious festivals are on the horizon. For practitioners of the Christian faith, Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season, is often celebrated with the placing of ashes on the foreheads of believers. This year, to continue the tradition and maintain COVID-19 safety standards, Pastor Jeffery Carstens of St. John's Lutheran Church, 501 Chestnut St., Emmaus, greeted community visitors as well as church members outside the church and offered everyone the opportunity to receive ashes. ABOVE: Pastor Jeffrey Carstens and St. John's member Mary Ann Aten stand together after Mary Ann receives ashes.

St. John's Lutheran Church Pastor Jeffrey Carstens gives ashes to Ron and Faye Schuler Feb. 17.

Pastor Jeffrey Carstens prepares to distribute ashes to Ferne Druckenmiller and Carol Merkel.