My spouse used to say, many years ago, that he was going to give up scotch mints for Lent. I couldn’t remember ever having seen him eat a scotch mint.
It was a Catholic joke I think.
Years ago, when I was caught up between 3 jobs and the busyness of the season I used to say that I gave up all my spiritual practices for Lent. Giving something up for Lent does not have a long history in the United Church tradition.
But I have always been surprised at how many folks still do give something up for Lent. It’s not a bad practice at the heart of its intention, but it has been abused over the years. The 2000 movie Chocolat with Alfred Molina, Judy Dench, Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, based on the 1999 novel Chocolat by the English author Joanne Harris, is a great commentary on the potential for meaningless sacrifice, even abuse, that the practice can invite. For a number of years we did a Lenten study based on that movie and an accompanying resource and folks loved the opportunity to explore the themes in the movie, which folks seemed to resonate with.
In the bulletin last week we included an insert Dana and I created that proposes alternatives for fasting – fasting from self-criticism, fasting from negative feelings, fasting from judgement ….. some suggestions focus on the taking up of things – a spiritual practice, buying only fair trade coffee or chocolate, or taking up a special daily contribution to a charity. There are many possibilities out there.
Some of you will have the Lenten Devotional from A Sanctified Art that we will be referring to throughout the worship services over the next 6 weeks. We will also be using it in the Wednesday evening Faith Study starting on March 12. If you would like a copy, which is available either in hard copy/paper from the office, or digitally, give the office a call.
The theme chosen for this year’s Lenten resource from A Sanctified Art is Everything in between – meeting God in the extremes. In the booklet you will find artwork, poetry, theological reflection and questions to ponder each week.
I will probably post on the blog a few times a week during Lent. My hope is to get a conversation going – whether it is in the Wednesday evening Faith Study starting on March 12, (in person or zoom), or the Thursday morning weekly check ins on zoom. Feel free to attend one, or both. I will circulate the zoom link tomorrow.
Dana has also created a page on the website which will include reflection questions and comments from the Sanctified Art materials.
Tomorrow I will post something about Ash Wednesday, and tell a few stories from my own experiences.
What are your Lenten memories and traditions?
