Lent...Ash Wednesday...Good Friday

[searchingforpeace]

I am not a Methodist, I currently do not associate with any specific denomination or a church. I am in the process of visiting churches. In two weeks I plan on visiting a UMC in my area. Today when talking with the Reverend of the church something was brought up regarding Lent. I found this very interesting. In churches I have been in over the past six years, Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday were not something that was really mentioned. The Reverend asked today, how does one get to Easter without the others. So the point of this post is I would love to hear, if anyone is willing to share, for those who attend UMC churches, how to your churches observe Lent,Ash Wednesday,and Good Friday. I have not been to a Methodist church since I was 8. I was baptized in a Methodist church when I was a baby. I do not remember much regarding the church as I was so little, but have been doing a lot of reading and praying. I have been looking at many churches and denominations in the area that I live. I ask questions, I pray, I research. So far I am noticing I keep coming back to Methodist. It is not up to me, for it is God's will as to where I end up. Finally learning that lol

Dianna

[sinner/SAVED]

We observe Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) with a pancake supper. If you research, you will find that this tradition has been in the church for at least 1000 years, possibly longer. The tradition is that you use up all of your oil, eggs, butter, etc. so that you can observe a fast during Lent.

On Ash Wednesday we have a service of repentance. The preacher draws a Cross with ashes on everyone's forehead. The ashes are from the palm fronds that the children used on Palm Sunday of last year. We always leave the ashes on our foreheads for the remainder of the day in the hopes that someone we meet will ask us about them and we will have a chance to witness.

The Lenten fast is a personal thing. Some choose to give up something (such as eggs, milk, etc.) so that every time they think about it they are reminded what Christ gave up for us. Others choose to give themselves for Lent, working with a charity during the days of Lent, etc.

We like to think that the entire church year is either Easter or preparing for Easter.

[searchingforpeace]

Thank you :) I will be researching more into all of it, I am very intrigued. :)

[Kryzoz]

I had a really elaborate post about 1 or 2 hours ago and then my computer crashed :(
So.... I will edit this post with the said elaborate celebration when I get back from choir rehearsal if I am up to it. If not, Friday definitely.

[searchingforpeace]

Great.:) I look forward to it. Sorry you are having computer problems...never fun. My whole computer crashed a few days back and I had to start from scratch...up side my computer runs like brand new now.

[Qyöt27]

My family personally never did much in regards to Lent - the reasoning being that 'why take that 40 days to draw attention to something that you should be paying attention to all year?'

However, recently I've come to see the clear significance of it. I wasn't completely traditional about it, though. I attempted (and somewhat succeeded, I guess) at trying to get things done which I had been procrastinating badly about. I got the idea from a post somewhere around here that mentioned that using the time to do something productive might work better for some than depriving themselves of whatever.


Our church also holds the evening Maundy Thursday service preceding Good Friday. My grandparents attend that every year.

[Morgaine1205]

My church does very much the same as Qyot27, and I would like to add that on Good Friday, through sunrise Easter morning, we have a prayer vigil. I always take the 3:00 a.m.-4:00 a.m. "shift", and what an amazing experience it always is. I read the Bible account of the crucifixion and resurrection, and then spend the rest of the hour in prayer and contemplation.

Maundy Thursday, and Ash Wednesday are very somber services, and a time of penitence. They are also very moving and thought provoking.

Please let us know if we can help with any other questions you may have! :)

[Redheadedstepchild]

The UMC churches in this area also hold services on Good Friday, etc. One local UMC has a labyrinth and opens it up to the public each day of Holy week.

Growing up, I remember Lent being discussed but I don't remember many people actually giving up anything...I think it was suggested as a means of spiritual growth that one could choose to experience. It wasn't a typical practice.

[Speculative]

We had a Shrove Tuesday event as well. It wasn't just pancakes, though. The idea was similar to what has been described, but we were to bring all kinds of snack foods that, presumably, we wouldn't be eating during Lent.

The Lenten idea was similar as well. We were asked to either give up some luxury, or to take on an additional act of charity or devotion.

For Good Friday, we had stations of the cross. Some of the more artistic people in our church painted the depictions for each station, and then the sanctuary was open for a few hours so that you could come and go and meditate on the stations whenever you wanted to, individually or as groups.

Coming from a (spiritually) Baptist background, I too felt the whole thing to be new to me, but it was very spiritually uplifting and significant.

[searchingforpeace]

Thank you all so much :) Can someone pleases tell me what Shrove Tuesday is? I have never heard of this. Yes have heard of Fat Tuesday, but must say I know it as being associated with Mardi Gras. I do appreciate everyone's input on this. :)

[sinner/SAVED]

Shrove Tuesday is the same as Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French). You never knew that Mardi Gras was a Christian feast day did you?

The tradition began at least 1000 years ago. The more widely known Mardi Gras celebrations come from the same tradition. On the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday you use up your entire store of whatever it is that you plan to fast during Lent. The Shrove Tuesday tradition is to use up all of your eggs, butter, oil, flour, etc. Mardi Gras tradition has come to mean use up all your liquor.

[searchingforpeace]

No, I had no clue that it was a Christian feast day. Wow. Love learning new things. Thank you so much :)

[HeatherJay]

LOL, the huge party that Mardi Gras turned into was a way to get your fill of sin and debauchery before the penitent time of Lent falls. :swoon:

[rrguy]

Thanks also I learned a little more about Fat Tues. I think lent & any other time you can give something up for Jesus will only bring you closer to him.

[sinner/SAVED]

.........will only bring you closer to him.
We Methodists call that "Means of Grace". All of the things that we do that places us in the path of Grace.