Each year you give us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery with mind and heart renewed. You give us a spirit of loving reverence for you, our [Mother]/Father, and of willing service to our neighbor. As we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ, you bring the image of your Son to perfection within us.... (First Preface for Lent, Roman Missal)
1. Did you celebrate Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday this year? Any memories of memorable celebrations past?
Not really, I did have ice cream for dessert that night. I was too tired to go to the Shrove Tues. Pancake Supper at J’s church. New Orleans had their Mardi Gras a week early.
2. How about Ash Wednesday, past and/or present?
It snowed pretty heavily on Wed. so we didn’t have very many out for ashes. I ended up “preaching to the choir” in reality.
3. Does your denomination or congregation celebrate "this joyful season"? Any special emphases or practices to share?
Episcopalians are usually very diligent in observing Lent. The Lutherans are more laid back about their Lenten observance—less ‘giving up’ (too Catholic in their minds) and more taking on a practice like Bible reading or service.
4. Do you have a personal plan of give-ups, take-ons, special ministries, and/or a special focus for your own spiritual growth between now and Easter?
This Lent seems to be starting out with a bit more ‘sturm und drang’ than usual. I may just let the season take shape on its own. There are some really dreadful things beginning to raise their heads in the diocese and the parish is a bit wonky at the moment, too. I am about to take a week off—something I have never done during Lent. I need to go to my family home. I won’t be gone a Sunday, but it feels strange having to deal with “family things” during Lent. My family doesn’t observe Lent.
5. What is your dream for the image of Christ coming to perfection in you, the church, the world? How can we support you in prayer?
For the past year, I have been working at trying to control my anger. In the past my temper has gotten the best of me. I have made an important decision not to allow my anger or my tendency to ‘fight before fleeing’ in hand. I have a situation in which some angry folk are coming to me the weekend I return from TX. I need to remain non-anxious so that I can hear them. Your prayers would be appreciated.
Bonus: Song, prayer, picture, etc. that sums up your feelings about this liturgical springtime.
6 comments:
may the wonkiness subside...
may the listening non-angrily happen and happen well...
may time dealing with family, be filled with grace...
Praying for you as you sort out family stuff, and that lent shapes itself into a real blessing.
prayers for peace and the grace to listen deeply to the anger without getting caught up in it too..
What helps defuse my anger is to pray as a mantra, "Bless_________, change me." Maybe that would help sometimes.
Came upon your blog today, and enjoyed your thoughts as Lent begins. It seems each year Lent takes on different forms for me. I have distinct memories of the lessons I've learned over the years! Hope your's is meaningful and that the "family things" fall into place as they should. God bless you.
Will be praying for you and the angry people also.
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