Lent question

[rinnie]

I am Roman Catholic, so I know everything we do for Lent.

My question is what do other faiths do to prepare for Easter?

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Go shopping for a new outfit to wear to church?

 

[Brywan]

In the Methodist tradition–they also have the season of Lent, but the penitential aspect of it is not overly emphasized–I remember Lenten “soup suppers” where we would have a simple dinner during the week followed by some kind of devotional or missions-oriented talk…

At the evangelical mega-church I attended, we did absolutely nothing to mark the season of Lent. We had a Good Friday service and an Easter Celebration-- but like everything else “liturgical” in that church, it was slam-bang-then over…Anything that smacks of “religion” or “ritual” or “dead tradition” is very suspect in churches like the one I belonged to…I now liken that attitude as similar to having sex without foreplay…but that might seem a crude analogy to some sensibilities…

I love it that the Catholic Church has 40 days of Lent, but 50 days of Easter–the rhythms of the liturgical life are so rich if you enter into them with the right attitude…

But having said the above, I remind myself, once again, that many of our evangelical brothers and sisters probably love Jesus Christ more than I do…so for many of them, what they are doing (or not doing, as the case may be) seems to be working in the way that matters the most,…

 

[grasscutter]

Go shopping for a new outfit to wear to church?

A a nice new hat!

 

[Mumbles140]

My non-Catholic fiancee and her family bounced around several churches as they lived in the Midwest, New York, and finally Maryland, so I’m not sure what instruction they received from their ministers, but I know they personally choose to give something up for Lent. Whether this was initiated by one of their churches or just a personal choice, I know of other Protestants who also partake in the Lenten sacrifice.

 

[benidict]

In my Christian Reformed home in which I grew up, we would buy lillies, and prepare for a family get together. We always celebrated Palm sunday, but it has only been relatively recently that my parents church included Maunday Thursday. And of course we would have a Good Friday service. Unfortunately, I never was raised with the whole season of Lent. Or Christmas for that matter. It was only within the Catholic Church that I learned how far reaching these seasons really were, not just one week or one day. Catholicism has brought much more meaning to my life. Peace

 

[Harpazo]

In the Orthodox Church we fast from all meat, and animal products (including butter, milk, eggs, lard, etc) as well as wine and oil. Wine and oil are allowed on weekends as well as on any major feast occurring during Great Lent. Shellfish is permitted all the time. It basically boils down to a vegan diet. The Church has been doing this same fast since the 1st century, so it is incredibly reassuring that many Saints have struggled with it just as I have.

We also greatly increase our prayers, attend more services, do more spiritual reading, fast from our selfishness and passions and give the money we would have spent on meat and dairy to the poor. Great Lent is seen as a huge blessing.

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[rinnie]

In the Orthodox Church we fast from all meat, and animal products (including butter, milk, eggs, lard, etc) as well as wine and oil. Wine and oil are allowed on weekends as well as on any major feast occurring during Great Lent. Shellfish is permitted all the time. It basically boils down to a vegan diet. The Church has been doing this same fast since the 1st century, so it is incredibly reassuring that many Saints have struggled with it just as I have.

We also greatly increase our prayers, attend more services, do more spiritual reading, fast from our selfishness and passions and give the money we would have spent on meat and dairy to the poor. Great Lent is seen as a huge blessing.

In Christ,
Andrew

This is a wonderful way to recognize lent. And I bet you think about God alot during the season, thats for sure Thank-you for sharing this.

 

[rinnie]

In my Christian Reformed home in which I grew up, we would buy lillies, and prepare for a family get together. We always celebrated Palm sunday, but it has only been relatively recently that my parents church included Maunday Thursday. And of course we would have a Good Friday service. Unfortunately, I never was raised with the whole season of Lent. Or Christmas for that matter. It was only within the Catholic Church that I learned how far reaching these seasons really were, not just one week or one day. Catholicism has brought much more meaning to my life. Peace

Thankyou Benidict

 

[rinnie]

In the Methodist tradition–they also have the season of Lent, but the penitential aspect of it is not overly emphasized–I remember Lenten “soup suppers” where we would have a simple dinner during the week followed by some kind of devotional or missions-oriented talk…

At the evangelical mega-church I attended, we did absolutely nothing to mark the season of Lent. We had a Good Friday service and an Easter Celebration-- but like everything else “liturgical” in that church, it was slam-bang-then over…Anything that smacks of “religion” or “ritual” or “dead tradition” is very suspect in churches like the one I belonged to…I now liken that attitude as similar to having sex without foreplay…but that might seem a crude analogy to some sensibilities…

I love it that the Catholic Church has 40 days of Lent, but 50 days of Easter–the rhythms of the liturgical life are so rich if you enter into them with the right attitude…

But having said the above, I remind myself, once again, that many of our evangelical brothers and sisters probably love Jesus Christ more than I do…so for many of them, what they are doing (or not doing, as the case may be) seems to be working in the way that matters the most,…

Thanks this is also a wonderful idea.

 

[rinnie]

A a nice new hat!

:tsktsk:

 

[Nine_Two]

Since Harpazo already described Orthodox Lent,

being raised an Anglican we were always encouraged to give something up for the duration, although it was an ecouragement, not a requirement.

 

[Mumbles140]

Since Harpazo already described Orthodox Lent,

being raised an Anglican we were always encouraged to give something up for the duration, although it was an ecouragement, not a requirement.

Thank you for sharing, although it isn’t a requirement for Catholics either, just strongly recommended!

 

[Cat]

My husband and I grew up evangelical Protestant. Easter, for us, was all about special music and drama and the rehearsals for the Easter cantata, which rivaled or surpassed the Christmas cantata.

Easter music is always the BEST music of the year in evangelical churches, even better than Christmas music. Songs like Annie Herring’s “Easter Song,” and Jamie Owens-Collins “The Victor,” and of course, the great song “Rise Again,” along with the more traditional songs, especially “Up From The Grave He Arose” and “He Lives.” I taught my daughters Up From The Grave when they were only toddlers, and they could sing all the verses along with the congregation–as you can imagine, quite a few people in the pews ahead of us turned around to see if that sweet voice really was coming from a 3-year-old!

And of course, many evangelical Protestant church choirs will prepare Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus for Easter Sunday morning, and best of all is when the congregation is invited to join in the singing of this great anthem.

And often, a young lady soprano will treat the congregation to Handels’ “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth,” also from “Messiah.” This is such a beautiful song.

I have to admit, folks, as much as I love the Easter Vigil Mass, I miss this glorious Easter music that I grew up with in the Protestant churches.

And I miss the dramatic productions and passion plays and cantatas.

Often as an evangelical Protestant I was involved not only with the adult cantata, but with a Children’s Choir play/musical as well. There are several excellent Easter musicals for young children. Check out “To See A Miracle,” about a blind father whose sight was restored by Jesus, and also “Vinegar Boy,” which tells the story of a scar-faced young boy adopted by the Roman soldiers and given the responsibility of giving the sponges full of vinegar to the crucified criminals.

These were excellent programs, and I wish that the Catholic parish that I attend would do these with their children and teens as part of the Easter season. I would gladly direct them again.

I actually wrote several Easter plays and musicals, which were presented in our church at or around Easter.

What I love about the Catholic Church is that Easter isn’t “done” on Easter Sunday–it’s just starting! Eight weeks of Eastertime is great! I just wish we Catholics would DO SOMETHING during that time other than stop fasting and eating meat on Fridays again–it would be the perfect time for glorious music and dramatic productions. Sigh.

 

[Mumbles140]

Cat, I’m not sure what the Church is like where you attend, but we had a very large Passion Play put on by the Youth Group every Good Friday. In fact, the Mother Superior of the Poor Clares, in town visiting the nuns at my Church, was in attendance. Afterwards, she requested a personal audience with the portrayer of Christ (me), and through one of the nuns translating, told me how beautiful a performance by young people so dedicated to Our Lord’s Passion. Perhaps it is just the Church you attend, or maybe mine was just ‘special’ in that sense. But remember, most of all, the music and plays are all minor compared to what actually occurred during that time period, and as a Catholic, sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ is much more fulfilling than Easter songs.

Also, the world-renowned Oberammergau Passion Play, performed every ten years in Germany, is a Catholic performance. Here is more information about it:

sacred-destinations.com/germany/oberammergau-passion-play

 

[confusedius]

I take Lent very seriously, and have celebrated it for years. I do have a question, however. What is with the 46 days? How can anyone really commit to following the example of Jesus and not do at least 40 days straight?

I have trouble not viewing this as almost a bit humorous. Please help me understand…

James

 

[Nine_Two]

I take Lent very seriously, and have celebrated it for years. I do have a question, however. What is with the 46 days? How can anyone really commit to following the example of Jesus and not do at least 40 days straight?

I have trouble not viewing this as almost a bit humorous. Please help me understand…

James

Catholics don’t count the Sunday’s as Lent, although in practice they are still observed.

Orthodox count Sundays but Lent ends seven days before Easter. The Lenten Fast however continues for Lazarus Saturday and Holy Week (excluding Pascha itself, which is the Great Feast).