Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/84

Contributor - Freda Witteveen

Title - Lent: Sacred or Secular

Topic - Women

Quick, all you trivia enthusiasts! Answer the following trivia questions.

1. How long is the season of Lent?

2. What day comes before Ash Wednesday?

3. Give two other well-known names for Shrove Tuesday.

4. How much does any of this really matter?

Lent probably comes from the Anglo-Saxon 'lencten' meaning spring, and the German 'Lenz', meaning the time when the days lengthen. For Christians it is a forty day period of self-examination and repentance in preparation for Easter. Forty days is no doubt used because of the forty days Moses fasted on Mount Sinai, forty days that Elijah fasted on the way to the Mount of God, and the forty days Jesus fasted in the desert.

To the believer Lent is a time of strengthening faith in the Lord, who has provided our salvation. We, who profess to be followers of Christ, are bowed low under the responsibilities, confusion and technological pressures of this world. A time of quiet contemplation, beyond our daily Bible Study, can help to renew our strength and provide insight into world problems.

The practice of fasting during Lent probably originated in the Catholic Church with Pope Saint Gregory the Great, one thousand years ago. According to a new ruling from the Vatican, Roman Catholics are now obligated to fast only on two days during Lent: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The Greek Orthodox Church has stricter rules for fasting. Animal products such as meat, eggs, fish, etc. are forbidden.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning ,*of Lent. In the Catholic service the priests will say, "Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return," as they place the mark of the cross with ashes on the foreheads of the faithful.

The ashes come from the branches of brushwood or palms which were consecrated the previous year on Palm Sunday. They are sifted, cleaned and given a special blessing before they are distributed on Ash Wednesday. The sign of the cross in ash signifies humility and penitence. in the past Lent often meant wearing dark, drab clothing, eating meals without meat and banning all good times for the forty days before Easter. The custom evolved of having a time of jolly fun on Shrove Tuesday, the day before the beginning of Lent. It became a time of celebrating, parades and revelry. The name itself derives from the ancient practice in the Roman Catholic Church of confessing of 'shriving' sins on this day in preparation for Lent. After the shriving, the day was often given over to carnival and merrymaking.

Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day, and the custom of eating pancakes, especially at church suppers for fund raisings, is quite common today. Historically, housewives would Make pancakes on this day in order to use up all of the eggs and fat in the house before the beginning of Lent. The Dutch are noted for their many flavoured and large 'pannekoeken' as any visitor to the Netherlands is able to attest. Here is a rather unusual recipe from the United States for pancakes that calls for tansy juice. This juice comes from the tansy herb, and I don't really know if this is available in your area or if some other flavouring could be substituted.

The recipe is from Easter the World Over by P.S. Lord and D.J. Foley, published by the Chilton Book Company.

Tansy Pancakes

Beat two eggs, add 1/4 pint of cream, two tablespoons of flour, one ounce of fine, granulated sugar. Beat together very well, then add a teaspoonful of tansy juice with a dash of nutmeg. Beat again and fry as pancakes in a pan greased with butter. Serve hot, garnished with sections of orange and dredged with fine white sugar.

Mardi Gras is another name for Shrove Tuesday. It is French for 'fat Tuesday' and is celebrated in such places as Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans in elaborate carnivals that begin days before and culminate in parades and costume balls on the Tuesday. This rather pagan practice has been observed for approximately 200 years.

These events, while not a part of our Church calendar, can serve as a catalyst to focus our thoughts and activities to that greatest of miracles, the resurrection of Christ. It is only through our risen Lord that we have hope and the promise of eternal life. Perhaps then, we should see Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent as worldly cues to alert us to the approach of Easter that we may stop and inquire of ourselves, 'Am I ready to celebrate the Victory?'

Recognition of these events which are significant in other churches is a way in which we may promote unity with all Christians and a respect of traditions which others may hold - one way in which to heal the brokenness of the Body of Christ.

Prayer of Repentance

Lord, You made this day, and every day. How it must make You sad when I take this day You gave me and misuse it instead of honouring, praising, and glorifying You, I exalted Satan and his evil ways.

How great is Your patience!

How great is your love!

Lord, it's so easy to stray; so easy to show anger, impatience, selfishess, and all those other qualities that we have without love.

Without Your love.

Lord, I repent with tears for the sins of this day that has passed. May I do nothing but worship, honour and glorify You every day You give me on this earth.

Lord, I praise Your Holy name, Your goodness, Your mercy. Most of all Lord, I thank You for Your everlasting love. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus, whom You sent to die on the cross for our sins, and whom You raised from the dead. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Battling for a Lost Soul

The battle in the spirit world is on. I can feel it. While we cry out to God for the lost soul of a loved one, the angels of Satan are rejoicing for a battle they have won.

Oh God, what do we do?

I'm weeping inside for the battle lost.

Dear Father in Heaven, hold me in Your loving arms as I weep.

May our tears cause You to move Your mighty hand against Satan. We took a few steps forward, but are we on the right path? Have we wandered down a dead-end branch?

Father, I cry out to You from the very depths of my being. Father, give me the comfort that I seek, not that I am worthy of it, but because You are the ever merciful and ever loving God.

Lord, I wait on You to move Your mighty hand. May I have the patience and the wisdom to know that Your will is the perfect will.

Father, thank you for easing my burden. May They will be done. Amen.

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