Lent

[vle045]

Do Methodist practice any sort of Observance of Lent? :scratch:

I really like meat and hate all seafood, btw. :wave:

[cristianna]

Hmm... you'd have to be more specific because I'm quite naive on how other denominations acknowledge and celebrate it.

Are you asking if we eat fish every Friday?

[vle045]

LOL... yeah.... meatless fridays, fasting, that sort fo thing.

[Redheadedstepchild]

Do Methodist practice any sort of Observance of Lent? :scratch:

I really like meat and hate all seafood, btw. :wave:

Me Too! Fish is blechy.

My experience is that some Methodists may chose to give up something for lent, but it's largely a personal thing.

[vle045]

I think I am going to add this to my list of reasons I want to be a Methodist.

I hope you all don't mind my comparison questions.

[cristianna]

I think I am going to add this to my list of reasons I want to be a Methodist.

I hope you all don't mind my comparison questions.

I don't mind. I actually have to commend you for such detailed thought and asking questions. I know many who would make decisions dismissing alot of research and an honest effort to ask questions and understand.

[Speculative]

Well, I LOVE seafood, so I could eat fish on Fridays...and Saturdays and Sundays and.....well, you get the idea.

Actually, Lent has always been important in our UMC. We don't do the Ash Wednesday and Good Friday fasts, but we are encouraged to make some kind of sacrifice--usually in terms of taking something on that will help others rather than giving up chocolate or something like that.

We also have the Ash Wednesday and Holy Week services and Lenten studies throughout the season. Last year, we even had Stations of the Cross, which was AWESOME!!

I've been to Presbyterian and Baptist churches where Lent is hardly mentioned at all. I think generally you'll find that Lent is an important time in the Methodist church, although maybe not emphasized quite as much as it is in the Catholic church.

[vle045]

I LOVE the idea of taking on something that helps others. Could you tell me anything more about that?

[Speculative]

Well, it can be pretty much anything, from visiting shut-ins, to committing to reconciling with an estranged family member, to making a special donation to a homeless shelter.

From reading our monthly church newsletter, it appears that this year the idea is to give up some negative attitudes (bitterness, judgementalism, gossip, worry, complaining) and replacing them with more positive and Christ-like attitudes (forgiveness, hope, prayerfulness, appreciation).

[MoeSzyslak]

I like the idea of doing something for lent. I think it would be more of a sacrafice for me.

I was a vegan for years, so giving up meat on Fridays was always real easy..

Ya gotta hit me where it hurts..

[vle045]

I like the idea of doing something for lent. I think it would be more of a sacrafice for me.

I was a vegan for years, so giving up meat on Fridays was always real easy..

Ya gotta hit me where it hurts..
Bwaa hahahahaha.

I guess if you are a Catholic Vegan, then Lent is just business as usual.

[JoshuaC77]

i can remember going to wal-mart after an ash wednesday service and people would stare at my forehead....would not shopping at wally world during lent prove helpful to someone else?

[cristianna]

i can remember going to wal-mart after an ash wednesday service and people would stare at my forehead....would not shopping at wally world during lent prove helpful to someone else?

^_^

I remember when the first time I saw someone with ashes, I thought it was a bruise. The second person I saw that day made me think it was odd people were walking around with fake bruises or dirt on their head.

By the third person, possibly fourth, I had sort of gotten the idea it had something to do with church and Easter.


Moe you totally crack me up!


I agree sacrificing your time for the benefit of others, imo, is a great parallel to giving up something. And let's face it, each year, because I don't want to fail, what I've chosen has never really been something where my heart dropped and I cringed over the idea. Borderline yes, but I've never attempted anything like caffiene or my Diet Cokes. (I don't think my family would want me too either! ;) )

[GraceSeeker]

No special fasts, though fasting is always encouraged as a means of grace at any time of year.

No required special services, though most will have some sort of special Lenten observance which varies greatly from locale to locale. Over 25 years of ministry I've done special weekly services, special weekly Bible studies, full-fledged "Schools of Religion" with every pastor in town teaching a course on our favorite topic that we normally don't get much of an opportunity to teach (I did cults, another did parenting, a third a church history class, another a brief overview of Revelation -- we had a great time, and parishioners were free to attend classes by someone other than their own pastor.) and all coming together to offer them at one location. Often Lenten series are in conjunction with other churches, either other UM churches in the area if there are several near each other, or ecumenically with other congregations in town. I've even done Lenten studies and worship services which included the local Catholic congregation.

This year I'm doing an Ash Wednesday service with the imposition of ashes. Have a preaching series on Holiness for the regular Sunday services (hmmm, I wonder where I got that idea?), our local ministerial association will put together ecumenical services for Holy Week, and then Easter Sunday we will have a full Easter breakfast in place of Sunday school between our two services.

[Redheadedstepchild]

GraceSeeker, the Schools of Religion thing sounds really cool. I would soo participate in something like that.


Anyway, so as it happens our church is doing a Lent thing (not sure what else to call it) on Wednesday. 1st we are having the pancake dinner (because all church dinners must be on Wednesday, I guess) and then we are having a small service where we will burn the palms from last year's Palm Sunday and mark ourselves with the ashes. I've never participated in anything like that before so I am really looking forward to it.

[vle045]

GraceSeeker, the Schools of Religion thing sounds really cool. I would soo participate in something like that.


Anyway, so as it happens our church is doing a Lent thing (not sure what else to call it) on Wednesday. 1st we are having the pancake dinner (because all church dinners must be on Wednesday, I guess) and then we are having a small service where we will burn the palms from last year's Palm Sunday and mark ourselves with the ashes. I've never participated in anything like that before so I am really looking forward to it.
It's probably on Wednesday because it's "Ash Wednesday".

[Redheadedstepchild]

Yeah, but the pancake thing is usually Tuesday, isn't it? :scratch:

LOL, or maybe I'm confused because every day is Fat Tuesday around here!

[GraceSeeker]

When Methodists:preach: try to act like Catholics:liturgy: we tend to modify some of the traditions.

[vle045]

When Methodists:preach: try to act like Catholics:liturgy: we tend to modify some of the traditions.
LOL. And just yesterday, I heard a Catholic state that Protestants do not celebrate Lent.

[vle045]

Yeah, but the pancake thing is usually Tuesday, isn't it? :scratch:

LOL, or maybe I'm confused because every day is Fat Tuesday around here!
Don't feel bad, i am ALWAYS confused

[cristianna]

LOL. And just yesterday, I heard a Catholic state that Protestants do not celebrate Lent.

^_^



I'm sure the person meant no harm. And see, I find it hysterical! Why? Because I, honest to goodness, would be the type to say innocently something like that.

Which is why you don't find me intermingling with alot of conversations regarding what other denominations do, believe, practice, etc- I'm just not versed enough to be 100% confident each and every time words exit my mouth.