I get a little behind during Lent, but it comes out even at Christmas.
Frank Butler
Frank Butler
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Generally it is customary to give something up for Lent - fast food, swearing... my grandmother used to give up beer! I always tell people about the time Casey's husband, James, gave up shaving for Lent. Nick threatens to do it each year.
But I also hear teachings that you can do something good for Lent like volunteer at a local shelter or promise to exercise regularly.
So for Lent this year, I'm going to church. Backwards, I know, but I thought it would be good to pick up a habit that may stick! I was raised in the Episcopal church but haven't found one here in St. Louis. I tried my second parish last Sunday and then have one more within my immediate area to check out. Hopefully one of those three will feel like a good fit. So far, the two I have been to have their pluses and minuses so I'll just have to decide what is most important to me.
Also, a friend of mine from high school is an Episcopal priest so I contacted him for a recommendation for a good and brief online/e-mail daily Lenten devotional. He recommended this one and asked me to let him know my thoughts after I try it for a few days.
So my first day of Lent plans include reading my devotional this morning, perhaps bribing Nick to go with me to church tonight for ashes or maybe during my lunch break and then trying church #3 on Sunday. We'll see how it all goes.
_edited-1.jpg)
9 comments:
That sounds like an awesome Lent "goal" if you will! I really want to get back to church as well but we're having a debate in our house about where to go...he's Lutheran and I'm Methodist-who knew there was so much difference!?!
Good luck, I think that is a really awesome goal for Lent--truly, that's what it is all about (crap, now I have the hokey pokey song in my head).
Can't wait to hear how this journey goes, keep us updated!
I think that's an awesome choice! You'll receive so much more reflection on the actual meaning of Lent than just giving up chocolate :) Good luck and I hope you find a church you love - we're still searching.
That is a great idea for Lent! Best of luck finding a church!
Oh, and I totally forgot about James giving up shaving... ha!
Not only did your Grandmother give up beer for lent, she went to 6:00A.M. Mass every morning and it was very cold and dark in Chicago at that time. She was quite an example to me.
I am always a bit confused about the whole giving up things for Lent. I'm not Catholic. And I'm not judging. But often people give up one thing and replace it with something similar. And then start back up again 40 days later. I love your choice of CHURCH! I think you will be so much more fulfilled in the spiritual sense than, say...if you gave up coffee! Hugs!
i like yours. im taking on making the bed every day.
i;m episcopalian too!
Good for you! I love the idea of an "active" Lent promise rather than a "giving up something" one! I feel your pain. My husband and I just moved from Florida to PA, and we LOVED our methodist church down there. We've tried out about (no exaggeration!) ten methodist churches up here so far, all without one being the perfect "fit." Sigh!
I know it's going to be worth the effort once we finally find it, though! I'm sure you're going to feel the same way. Good luck!
i love that idea. and our priest actually called me on monday because he missed us since we hadn't been in 3 sundays (!!). oops! back to church we go on sunday!
Post a Comment