Lent?

[wulf]

Are you doing anything to mark the season of Lent, either individually or at your church?

For myself, my personal discipline is to try and allow eight hours of sleep (or at least resting in bed) each night. That means not staying up to squeeze in just one more thing on the computer but making a deliberate choice to be more rested and, therefore, hopefully getting more from the hours when I am up and around.

At church, we don't have anything in particular going on but will finish with a special event on Maundy Thursday, which we have chosen to think about the theme of slavery (200 years since the abolition of the British slave trade, present day slavery, and the freedom that Jesus offers from slavery to sin).

What about the rest of you?

Wulf

[PastorSparky]

No, my church did not do anything for Lent. Of course I fully respect the tradition but from a personal point of view, I think we as Christians should decide to give up unwholesome aspects of our lifestyle all year round and not just on New Years Day or Lent -- although having said that I can understand people wanting to choose a certain date, draw a line and step over it.

Last night we had a great baptism service. I really want to be able to have these services every month. I am the chap on the left with the grey shirt

[TonyaMae]

personally i am not fully aware of what Lent even IS.
Wulf, do you have a suggestion of where a good reference is to read on for this topic?
When i hear of Lent, all i think of is the Catholic churches. and Fish being served everywhere in honor of it, instead of meat.

What did you say Thursday was again? Maundy Thursday???
will have to look that up......
this thursday i'll be heading down for the first of a 3 day conference. and was actually concidering fasting and praying before then.
although i hadnt concidered it being associated with Lent, until this brought it to my attention...
i'd really like to know more information on it.
blessings to ya!

[wulf]

Okay, here is Lent: 101:

It is a long-established Christian tradition to spend most of the period leading up to Easter as a time for some kind of fasting. The total period is 46 days but you don't count the Sundays (you're allowed to feast and celebrate on Sundays!) so that gives you 40 days - like the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert (ie. it wasn't just a number plucked randomly out of the air!).

The day before Lent was a chance to use up all the rich fatty foods that wouldn't be needed so much in the coming season; that's where pancake day and Mardi Gras (ie. "fat Tuesday") originate. The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday, and some people will be marked with ash to symbolise their fasting.

The season ticks on until Palm Sunday, a week before Easter, when Jesus' triumphal entry in Jerusalem is remembered. Some churches give out little crosses made of palm fronds, which are what is burnt to provide the ash for the Ash Wednesday the following year. You then have Maundy Thursday (the night of the last supper), Good Friday, a silent Saturday and, at last, Easter Sunday! Hallelujah, he is risen!

There is no evidence of a Lent-type season being instituted in the New Testament but, just because it is not mandated, that does not mean it is of no value. Many Christians could do with a little more contemplative space in their lives and it provides an achievable goal for following some kind of extra discipline, whether that is giving something up (chocolate and TV are modern favourites) or taking something on (like my plan to ensure I make time for eight hours of sleep a night).

It is an artificial season but then, as all cooks know, a little of the right seasoning goes a long way to making the dish richer!

For more background and plenty of links, you could start further reading over on the Wikipedia article.

Wulf

[Chrissle]

My church is running short prayer and reflection sessions morning and evening, in addition to the Lent Course sermons by the vicar - and we have a prayer diary with a list of topics for coverage.

Personally speaking, as I'm already dieting for reasons of health I can't give up anything on that front - and anyway I agree with PastorSparky; it should be a continual aim (and not necessarily food/drink related!). Granted there is a question of scale or degree, but I think it more important as a concept in that it allows some of us a means to identify with Jesus and what he went through. If it only provokes thought rather than actual abstinence - then for those who require a target, reminder or line in the sand it at least achieves something.

Great picture, BTW! I was baptised like that once, a looong time ago, in a little Baptist Church in deepest darkest Dorset. The water was very warm....

[TonyaMae]

ahhh! Thank you Wulf! i get it now! some of the information i already knew.... ie Ash wednesday, Fat Tuesday, Good Friday, Palm Sunday...but had never heard the thursday one! its quite interesting actually! even more interesting that they didnt count the sunday's in the time table.
all very interesting, i'll be looking more into it! thanks again!!!

[KevinT]

As well as lent groups focusing on prayer (I can't remember the specific course we are doing, but it's very definately practical in approach) we are taking part in Love Life Live Lent, which is about encouraging people to take-up something new that helps others or the environment. There are booklets for adults and children providing a different action for each day. Today's is "turn off the tap when you clean your teeth". You can see more details at the website http://www.livelent.net/ , look at the video it's quite upbeat - particularly for the Anglican church, the scene where you're encouraged to haggle the price upwards made me laugh.

[KeithR]

We don't seem to do anything special for Lent either. I tend to agree with Sparky's comments.

Having attended both CofE and 'evangelical/charismatic' churches (NOT implying that CofE's aren't evangelical!) I can see both sides. I guess there is some identification with Jesus suffering (similar to a Good Friday service).

I half had in mind a scripture from 1Peter4 about partaking in His sufferings but that really relates to trials.

[KevinT]

Our lent course is called "Life Source": a 5-session course on prayer for Lent. It's by Robert Warren and Kate Bruce, published last year by Church House Publishing. There are further details here http://www.chpublishing.co.uk/product.asp?id=2392441.