Lent is coming!

[Lotar]

So, what are you planning on giving up?

 

[Crazy Liz]

Lots of protestants don't even observe Lent. I wonder how many do?

 

[dsdumpling]

For the most part, I'm giving up television.

Crazy Liz, I've never heard that before that Protestants don't observe Lent. We have a Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner and a Ash Wednesday service.

 

[Crazy Liz]

Guess I've been around Mennonites, Baptists, Quakers, Evangelical Free and other
Free Church Protestants too much. I have seldom, if ever, seen Lent observed or even heard it mentioned in any of these churches. When I have, it seems to be mostly railing against "works righteousness" of Roman Catholics.

I'm interested in which churches do and do not observe Lent, if that wouldn't mean hijacking this thread. Sorry, Lotar.

 

[dsdumpling]

I'm Methodist and we observe Lent.

 

[Lotar]

That's to bad if they don't.

I still am not sure what it is I'm giving up. I'm thinking maybe certian foods, like meat and soda, but then I'll probably starve or die of dehydration

 

[Arikereba]

I'm still not sure what I'm giving up. I was thinking maybe I would fast for one day a week--or, if I can't manage that, skip lunch two or three days a week.

 

[Reformationist]

I have never observed Lent. Can someone explain it to me and also explain the Scriptural reasoning for doing it?

Also, would anyone be willing to share their motivation for observing Lent?

Thanks,
God bless

 

[nyj]

I still am not sure what it is I'm giving up.

You could always give up posting on CF.

 

[ChoirDir]

So, what are you planning on giving up?

I'm sure you know this already, Lotar, we give everything up

 

[Jenna]

I'm Lutheran. I was never raised believeing that there was anything that we HAD to do, but that it is a good time to make positive changes to one's lifestyle and devotion. I haven't decided what I'm going to do this year. I have a bit more reflecting to do on areas of my faith that could use some bolstering, and how I could manage that by changing my lifestyle.

 

[PuppyforChrist]

I'm Lutheran, and I do Lent.

My friend at church is giving up all junk food. I'm just settling for chocolate cause there is no way I could handle all junk food.

Hmm, I dunno what else besides chocolate. I need another idea.

And no, giving up posting on CF is not an option.

 

[nyj]

I need another idea.

You could always eliminate "free time" by doing extra Scripture reading and reflection and/or spending more time in prayer. And the money you save on chocolate, you could donate to a charity that assists in feeding the poor (if you don't do that already).

 

[PuppyforChrist]

That's a good idea nyj, but I'm already doing that. I've been bringing my Bible and devotionals to school with me and studing the Word during my free time. As for the money donation, I really don't buy chocolate, my mom does. We always have chocolate in the house, and I'm the one who always eats it. I wish I could donate money to the homeless, but there are no donations that allow money donations near where I live. Just clothes and stuff can be donated. Not money.

Thanks for the ideas though.

 

[Lotar]

I have never observed Lent. Can someone explain it to me and also explain the Scriptural reasoning for doing it?

Also, would anyone be willing to share their motivation for observing Lent?

Thanks,
God bless

​

Lent is a 40-day liturgical season that begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes at the Great Vigil of Easter. Sundays are not included in the 40-day count because every Sunday is a joyful celebration of Jesus' resurrection. Though not biblical, Lent has long been a tradition in the Christian Church, and it is thought that the tradition of the 40 days recalls the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). Lent is considered a time of penance and discipline.
​

Because of Lent's penitential nature, worship tends to be more solemn, and purple is the liturgical color of the season. Some congregations remove flowers from the worship space, and for many, songs of praise like the Gloria in Excelsis ("Glory in the highest") and expressions of joy like the exclamation "Alleluia" ("Praise the Lord") are removed from the liturgy until Easter. Many congregations hold special mid-week worship services and promote other devotional activities to help their members concentrate on the Lenten disciplines of fasting, almsgiving (charity) and prayer.
​

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. On this day, Christians focus on their complete sinfulness and the necessity of Christ's suffering and death to insure their salvation. Ashes are referred to many times in the Old Testament as signs of sorrow, mourning, humility, and repentance, and on Ash Wednesday they are used to remind people of their mortality -- that "you are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). Many churches use ashes during Ash Wednesday worship in a ritual called the Imposition of Ashes. In this custom, ashes are mixed with a small amount of oil and applied to the forehead of each worshipper.
​

The Sunday of the Passion or Palm Sunday begins the last week of Lent, known as Holy Week. During this holiest time of the church year, the worship services relive the final week of our Lord's human life. Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, when Christians observe Christ's "Last Supper" -- the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion -- and the mandate to serve one another in love. Good Friday commemorates the imprisonment, trial and death by crucifixion of Jesus.
​

Lent culminates on Saturday evening of Holy Week in the Great Vigil of Easter, when Christians gather in darkness, light new fire, and celebrate the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in the resurrection of Christ.​

​

​

http://www.elca.org/co/whatislent.html​

​

​

​

It is a time to fast and/or give up something important to you, and focus on Christ.​

 

[EdmundBlackadderTheThird]

I do sort of a strange Lent thing every year, I give up something each week and by the end of it, well look at my Lent schedule for this year:

Week 1 - Caffiene
Week 2 - Nicotine
Week 3 - Processed Sugar
Week 4 - Fast Food/Junk Food (Chips, to-go salads, etc)
Week 5 - Meat
Week 6 - Fasting

That about sums up my yearly Lent. This will be the first year I have been dedicated enough to include giving up smoking, with God's grace I will not pick it up again afterwards. I can't give up the computer as I telecommute and my job just wouldn't understand why I couldn't work for a large chunk of Lent

 

[Reformationist]

It is a time to fast and/or give up something important to you, and focus on Christ.

Why is that only a 40 day a year thing? Isn't that what we should be striving to do every day of the year?

Thanks,
God bless

 

[BBAS 64]

Why is that only a 40 day a year thing? Isn't that what we should be striving to do every day of the year?

Thanks,
God bless

What he said! He beat me

Bill

 

[Oblio]

Lent is more than just fasting.

FTR - it is 40 days + Holy Week (at least in the Orthodox Church)

All told, we fast over half the year :o

 

[BBAS 64]

Lent is more than just fasting.

FTR - it is 40 days + Holy Week (at least in the Orthodox Church)

All told, we fast over half the year :o

Oblio,

God bless you!! I could not do that my wife loves to cook so I love to eat, Great Match God made here

BBAS