Lent?

[awkward-yet-sweet]

Probably most common for Catholics, but are any among us observing the season of Lent this year, beginning next Wednesday?  What does it mean to you?

[VickySGV]

Add in the Episcopalians on observing Lent.  I do not strictly observe Lent with the prayer and fasting that many do, but I try to simplify my life for a while and I look for service to give to my whole community as a discipline and not just a happenstance.  Some meditation on how I can make my life more meaningful to me and others whether it is to write stories for my grandchildren or adult children or donate things to local charities that help all people in our area as well as my LGBTQ center.  I do participate in my church's special services of the season as well. 

[April Marie]

We're Catholics and observe Lent. We follow the meatless Fridays approach in our meals and look for ways to heighten our service to community/others.  It's a time for personal introspection and seeking inner peace. This is my first Lent since coming out to my wife and working through this labyrinth of emotions will surely be a focus for me in my prayers.

[Heather Shay]

I was raised Catholic although I now am not a member of any organized religion I still believe in the principals taught by the Christ and also the great prophets of history and live my life as I believe they taught and practiced as opposed to the organized religions that seem to cherry pick the Bible. I use teachings as a guide but no longer observe the rituals. 

Lent can be a time of personal introspection and is a rich source of helping one be more observant of one's own journey. If following the guidelines of the Catholic or Episcopalian or other organized religion helps you then by all means use it, if not, then find your own way to become more in touch with your own journey is my practice.

[Marcie Jensen]

Lent is an interesting period on the church calendar for Christians of all denominations with a wide variety of practices. For example, traditional Catholic/Anglican (Episcopalian)/Orthodox practices can involve the practices of fasting, application of ashes to the forehead on Ash Wednesday, processions around the sanctuary on Palm Sunday and assorted others depending on denomination and personal choice. For example, I've a good friend that I've known for over 40 years who is a heavy smoker. Every year he gives up smoking for Lent, and promptly lights up his Lucky immediately after services on Easter.  

 

Other Protestant denominations have different practices that vary greatly. As a Presbyterian, we always have a special service on Good Friday (and it IS a really Good Friday despite the crucifixion) and we do the same on Palm Sunday, but we don't process around the church sanctuary or observe Ash Wednesday as such. And like other denominations, Bible study tend to focus on the events leading up to the crucifixion and subsequent Resurrection. Other denominations do things in their own fashion, with some even having Seder dinners to observe Passover., and others not doing anything special to mark the season.

 

For myself, it's a time of introspection, prayer and in depth Bible study. I also participate in the church I worship at's special services and events. As a Presbyterian Minister of Word and Sacrament (retired), I don't belong to a particular congregation; rather I am a member of the local presbytery.

[awkward-yet-sweet]

I've noticed that denominations that have a liturgical service are more likely to observe Lent (and other seasons like Advent) than non-liturgical denominations like Baptists and Pentecostals.  I wonder if that generalization holds true across the Christian spectrum? 

 

My community does not have a liturgy, although services usually have structure.  Yet there are definite seasons to the year and periods of special observance.  I grew up Orthodox, so I feel like the structure is comforting, especially amid all the craziness.  But I've always thought that prayer/fasting was a personal thing, rather than something one has to do because everybody else is doing it.  Catholic friends have occasionally asked a question like, "What are you giving up for Lent?"  I always wondered if perhaps it was supposed to be done in secret, rather than something to talk about.  Thoughts? 

[VickySGV]

45 minutes ago, awkward-yet-sweet said:

I always wondered if perhaps it was supposed to be done in secret, rather than something to talk about.  Thoughts? 

Much of that is done simply in good natured fun.  It can also be mockery from some who do not observe the season. Using the Friday Fish thing as an example, if that is my discipline (it is not this year) I will bring it up if I am invited out for dinner on a Friday as a question about what a restaurant serves and how its fish dishes taste.  If they do not serve fish, I will just have a vegetable soup or a salad.  I love Manhattan Style Clam Chowder so that is there. There is a Bible scripture attributed to Jesus on the subject of pious fasting that says not to make a big deal of it or burden other people with your discipline.  I too will joke lightly about it some times, but for the most part, what I am doing is no different from what I could do any time of year.  I am just making a point to do it intentionally and in the time frame. 

[Marcie Jensen]

12 minutes ago, awkward-yet-sweet said:

I've noticed that denominations that have a liturgical service are more likely to observe Lent (and other seasons like Advent) than non-liturgical denominations like Baptists and Pentecostals.  I wonder if that generalization holds true across the Christian spectrum? 

 

My community does not have a liturgy, although services usually have structure.  Yet there are definite seasons to the year and periods of special observance.  I grew up Orthodox, so I feel like the structure is comforting, especially amid all the craziness.  But I've always thought that prayer/fasting was a personal thing, rather than something one has to do because everybody else is doing it.  Catholic friends have occasionally asked a question like, "What are you giving up for Lent?"  I always wondered if perhaps it was supposed to be done in secret, rather than something to talk about.  Thoughts? 

Great question! And one that has (literally) been the cause of debate since he reformation, as well as the subject of many volumes of theological study. As the answer is incredibly complicated, I'll try to keep this short. (I hope.) Broadly speaking, the answer is yes...and no.  This may get lengthy, and is an overview only.

 

For example, Advent is almost universally celebrated regardless of the denomination. However in practice, denominations differ in practice; advent wreaths and candles, advent calendars, etc. Also, in terms of Church Calendars, seasons such as Lent and Advent, are marked as is Pentecost. While the congregation may not see them, particularly in protestant denominations, church calendars play a role in Scripture reading, Bible Study, sermon content and even down to the colors used in altar linen and the stoles worn by clergy. 

 

AND, if that isn't enough, things like communion practices, baptism, marriage and ordination have specific liturgies particular to each denomination. It gets confusing. "High Church," meaning the liturgies practiced by Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Methodists and Lutherans is very comforting and beautiful. But many protestants fear formal liturgies because of the danger of going through them by rote; doing church by the motions rather than through genuine faith. (poorly worded, sorry.)

 

Prayer and fasting should also be personal, however group prayer during worship services is a common practice. The whole giving something up for Lent is, to me, a curious practice that isn't endorsed in Scripture, so, as a good Calvinist, I generally ignore it. Keep in mind that a crucial difference between most protestant denominations and the various episcopies (ie: governed by bishops) is that Catholics, Anglicans, etc., believe that justification before God is more than faith; it it consists of works and church tradition (ritual/liturgy) as well. To a protestant, a central belief is we are justified by faith in Jesus alone. And we distinguish, and tend to keep separate, justification and sanctification.

 

Incidentally, the privacy of both prayer and fasting are emphasized in Matthew 6:6, where Christ tells us to "pray in our closets," and again in Luke: 18 9-14; the prayer of the tax collector.

 

@awkward-yet-sweet I hope that answers your question. Or at least h

[Charlize]

I do not observe Lent but certainly have no issues with those who do. 

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Dillon]

On 2/22/2023 at 10:15 PM, awkward-yet-sweet said:

  Catholic friends have occasionally asked a question like, "What are you giving up for Lent?"  I always wondered if perhaps it was supposed to be done in secret, rather than something to talk about.  Thoughts? 

I'm new here and am so glad to see that there are religion topics. I grew up Roman Catholic and really didn't believe in it then. Later, I became Episcopalian, which is similar in some ways. I remember Catholics talking about what they gave up for Lent, and it was always a mutual support thing. Even though I saw a lot of attitudes that weren't very spiritual in that church, for this one thing I never saw anyone use it to boast. And I remember a lot of people admitting it when they failed at whatever they tried to give up. But on the other hand, I didn't see that Lenten observance made people kinder afterward. I'm not into Lent these days, but my church does some nice things during the season, and I participate in some. This year, they are doing a weekly meditation class.