Lent

[keltic63]

for those of you who follow the church year, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. what are you plans? will you be participating in some kind of denial (giving up chocolate, sweets, smoking, drinking, swearing, etc.) ? or will you find a way to add something to your life that may be lacking? I haven't yet decided what to do. I prefer adding something, rather than denying myself. I've added bible study, or learning new music for my church job, in the past. I'd like to add something edifying this year, I'm just not sure what to add.

How about you?

[Vanessa White]

Hi Keltic: I attend a United Methodist church, and myself and my daughter both plan on observing (my partner attends the services but is not yet sure about the observing). Our daughter is eight, and beginning to really develop her understanding and awareness of God and Jesus Christ, and she is deeply affected by the Passion ( that started without any prompting from us, but I believe it is the intense drama of Christ hanging on the cross that seems to compel her). Anyway, I would like to give up something as well as add something. I will probably do away with late night snacking, which will be a rather big sacrifice, and add reading the Bible daily, and/or attending the weekday/evening services that my church and churches in the area conduct during Lent. My daughter is thinking of giving up chocolate or a favorite tv show. The meaning in observing it for me the last couple of years is different than in years past. I always earlier in life did it out of expected compliance, or because it seemed expected of me. Now, I really want to fully embrace the whole recognition of it as much as I can. I saw "The Passion of the Christ" 2 years ago, after not being sure that I wanted to, and it changed me in many ways. The visual aspects of it brought Christ's death and resurrection into a whole new dimension for me. Anyone else? PS Sorry to be so wordy!!! PEace, Vanessa

[SolInvictus]

For Lent, my church will be celebrating the Christian Passover to begin the season known as a Sedar meal. It is a beautiful ceremony in mid-March or April that has symbolic foods of being in the wilderness & then hymns/music in the main sanctuary afterwards followed by the lights gradually turned off & ceremonial candles slowly blown out one at a time as the congregation leaves the service. It is quite a mystical and humbling experience & makes the Easter service more powerful with the symbol of light returning to the world. Its truly beautiful.

[SolInvictus]

Originally Posted by Vanessa White

Hi Keltic: I attend a United Methodist church, and myself and my daughter both plan on observing (my partner attends the services but is not yet sure about the observing). Our daughter is eight, and beginning to really develop her understanding and awareness of God and Jesus Christ, and she is deeply affected by the Passion ( that started without any prompting from us, but I believe it is the intense drama of Christ hanging on the cross that seems to compel her). Anyway, I would like to give up something as well as add something. I will probably do away with late night snacking, which will be a rather big sacrifice, and add reading the Bible daily, and/or attending the weekday/evening services that my church and churches in the area conduct during Lent. My daughter is thinking of giving up chocolate or a favorite tv show. The meaning in observing it for me the last couple of years is different than in years past. I always earlier in life did it out of expected compliance, or because it seemed expected of me. Now, I really want to fully embrace the whole recognition of it as much as I can. I saw "The Passion of the Christ" 2 years ago, after not being sure that I wanted to, and it changed me in many ways. The visual aspects of it brought Christ's death and resurrection into a whole new dimension for me. Anyone else? PS Sorry to be so wordy!!! PEace, Vanessa

Hi Vanessa. Yes, the Passion deeply affected me too. Our struggles pale in comparison to the suffering of Christ's crucifixion - a very powerful film. When Christ states "they hated me without a cause" - I understood internally what he meant as we LGBT know how it feels to be hated by others (i.e. Religious Right) without any just cause. However, like Christ, we can rise again & the forces of hatred cannot keep us down :-)

[NathanATX]

I can't bring myself to watch "The Passion"... but that's a different discussion.

I didn't grow up with lent being observed... it was a big "corporate" non-denominational church... so I haven't thought much about the giving up/adding things. I will go to the lent service this wed.

Things I could give up:
Alcohol
Dessert
Fast Food
Sugar--actually not a good idea since my blood sugar can get messed up

Things I could add:
daily meditation
...

Is the purpose to symbolize the 40 days in the desert?

[SolInvictus]

Originally Posted by NathanATX

I can't bring myself to watch "The Passion"... but that's a different discussion.

I didn't grow up with lent being observed... it was a big "corporate" non-denominational church... so I haven't thought much about the giving up/adding things. I will go to the lent service this wed.

Things I could give up:
Alcohol
Dessert
Fast Food
Sugar--actually not a good idea since my blood sugar can get messed up

Things I could add:
daily meditation
...

Is the purpose to symbolize the 40 days in the desert?

Hey Nathan,
here is a link for the Catholic interpretation & symbolism of Lent (hope this answers your question): http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09152a.htm

[schoolboi]

I actually really enjoy Lent. I have been observing it since 1999. It is not something that those in my Pentecostal / Charismatic heritage tend to observe. As a matter of fact it is mocked as being something ritualistic or being empty religion. My grandparents thought I was crazy when I told them I was observing it. Then I told them it was 40 days of prayer and fasting they thought it might not be such a bad thing.

In the past I have had numerous Lenten devotions. One year I gave up church! Since church is one of my favorite things that was quite difficult.

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition Lent or the "Great Fast" is taken to the extreme. No meat of any kind except shell fish, no dairy products, no oil as in olive oil to dip ones bread in or margarine, no alcohol, no sex. On Sundays its ok to drink wine and have oil since one should not fast on Sunday. A similar fast is observed during the fast of the Apostles in late summer it lasts about 10 days, also during advent, and EVERY Wednesday and Friday except during the Easter season. Part of the understanding of such a strict fast is that no one ever fully keeps it. It exposes even more of our weakness. I converted to Orthodoxy in 2000, but no longer consider myself Orthodox. I actually enjoyed this tradition as well and I'm sure from time to time I will keep it again.

I normally like to both give up something and take something on. This year I'm taking on praying the stations of the cross every Friday. It's a great tool. I have not figured out what I will give up yet, but it will come to me. I would give up sex, but you must be having it to stop having it. lol

As far as Passover is concerned my family has been celebrating it since I was 13. My church went through a Messianic Jewish phase about that time and the traditions stuck in my family. My Grandparents will be visiting from Oklahoma this year to help me lead the Passover Seder at my Church. I can't wait!

BTW: Hope you all have a decadent Mardi Gras! It is the first of the three gay high holy days you know!

[revtj]

On Ash Wednesday I will receive the ashes on my forehead per ancient tradition, "T.J. remember that dust you are and to dust you shall return."

I don't have plans to give anything up.

My prayer/meditation life has been circling around the whole idea of 'consecration' lately. The notion was ignited when I heard John Shelby Spong say in an interview that he feels the resurrection, rather than being physical, is eucharistic.

I thought about how we meet the risen Christ at the communion table. Lately I have been thinking a lot about what was once heresy to me as an Irish Presbyterian for so long, the Mass and transubstantiation.

I have been wondering if we as Christ's disciples become the 'body of Christ' when/as we are willing to be consecrated, like the elements of bread & wine, set apart to be broken and given up for the spiritual nourishment of the church.

The cost of discipleship for the earliest christians was often death, which explains (for me at least) how the Mass became central. It is still a mystery however you might explain it theologically.

And it is the cost of discipleship still, I think... But how so for me? for you? for same-gender loving people? How could we lay our life down for the church to renew the body of Christ and liberate the churches from homophobia?

[Vanessa White]

I think that, in a way, the current discipleship for LGBTQ people who are members of a church, pay with our lives in many ways, both figuratively and literally. So many youths, and probably adults as well, actively take their own lives, or treat themselves with such self-hatred that it eventually kills them. Part of that, I believe, is due to the desire to be a disciple of Christ, aspire to his words and teachings, and having others within our congregations that we are sinful, we have no worth, we don't belong there. I feel very fortunate that those statements have never been made to me directly, but I feel pain for those that have heard them. I also feel like a disciple of sorts for the gay community, and I don't mean to misuse the word disciple here. But I know that I would advocate very strongly on my own behalf, on behalf of my family, and on behalf of gay youths and gay persons at large, to be treated fairly, equally and with respect and love. I know that holds its own risks in certain segments of society, at least risk of rejection if not risk of safety or life. Even as a disciple, I feel fear and doubt at times, but know in my heart what my worth is and how I am sure that I am valued by God.

[schoolboi]

One of my favorite Lenten practices from my time in Eastern Orthodoxy was the prayer of St Ephraim and prostration. It is a great daily mediation to take on during lent.

The Great Lenten Prayer of St Ephraim:
O Lord and Master of my life, drive away from me the spirit of despondency, negligence, avarice and idle talk. prostration.

But grant me, Thy servant, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. prostration.

Yea, O Lord and king, grant me to see mine own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou unto the ages. Amen. prostration

(The Jesus prayer 12 times, 12 bows)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

(And the entire prayer O Lord and Master... is repeated, with one prostration.)
(In Orthodoxy to make a prostration we kneel, place our hands on the floor and touch our foreheads down between our hands.)

[SolInvictus]

Thank you, schoolboi, a beautiful prayer.

[Vanessa White]

I also really like the prayer, schoolboi, and this may be just the prayer I would like to add during my observance of Lent. Thanks!

[PostGenXtian]

So many 'bad' things to give up, so little time. I'm completely addicted to Pepsi...and was thinking about that...and then there is the whole shopping addiction

Ok, in all seriousness, I'm not "giving up" anything this year. Actually, I'm taking a journey into finding out more about what I believe/don't believe - which is one of the reasons why I'm here (literally). Actually - I just found this website today and this is my first post (yeah)!! It's kind of funny (or not), because I was browsing through the site and pulled down the Anti-GLBT Watch menu -- and there is my 'denomination' (AG). Please don't hold that against me!!

[schoolboi]

PostGen,

Glad you are here! I share your Pepsi addiction. I grew up in the AG. It’s interesting that you are questioning the things you believe. I started a process of questioning what I had always believed when I was 14 years old. Having grew up AG I knew nothing but AG doctrine. I believed the 16 Fundamental Truths was the perfect description of correct belief. By the time I was 16 years old I hardly only a few of the points in AG doctrinal statement. My theology has continued to change and I know I am better for it. I would love to talk to you sometime about what you are currently questioning. Feel free to send me a private message if you want to talk.

CoreyH