Tomorrow is Donut Day!

I grew up celebrating German Fastnaught Day. The tradition of eating donuts the day before Lent began stems from the need to use up fat, eggs and dairy products before the fasting and abstinence of the Christian season of Lent and the desire to have one final "sweet treat" before that period begins. Today I live in a different hometown and the bakeries alternatively promote this day as the Polish Paczki Day. I cherish times of preparation such as Lent but I must admit that my sweet tooth looks forward to traditions such as donut day...no matter which country of orgin it is connected with.  I'm off to the bakery to stock up for tomorrow so I can relive my childhood and recall the story of this tradition with my children.  Hope you'll join me!

Preparing for Lent

While preparing for Lent, personally and by outfitting clients new and old with purple stoles, I came across this thought...

“The spiritual goal of Lent is to admit our need for Lent.” Donna E. Schaper, Breathing New Life into Lent.

Something to think about.

Preparing for Lent

I'm preparing a "Lenten Art Journey" for my home church's art gallery.  Therefore I've pulled out some favorite readings for Lent and discovered some new ones.  

Seven Lasting Words, by Christopner Seitz is an old favorite. The vingettes are simple and clear yet powerful inspiration during Lent. The wood carving illustrations by Helen Firth are the perfect accompaniment.

A new read for me is The New Stations of the Cross by Megan McKenna. Mckenna suggests that if a church has no stations then stations that represent symbols of the Lent to Easter story can be used.  These might include: collections baskets for food for the poor, clothing items, green cards, barbed wire, stones, collages of faces, crosses with names, candles, banners of color. She subscribes to using less than more to make the statement of the symbol.

If your church does not have permanent stations what have you done that has proven meaningful to enhance the season?

BINGO!

Looking for a fun way to open the eyes of the young (and young at heart) in your worship space? Play sanctuary BINGO!

Make a bingo sheet with drawings, photos, or descriptive words of shapes and symbols that you see in your church worship space. During a non worship time...such as education hour or a special family social/event hand out the bingo sheets with a marking tool. Instruct the participants to walk around as individuals (like stealth spies) and when they find something that matches the sheet they can cross it off. Decide whether "bingo" is one row or the whole sheet (we call this black out).When someone gets "bingo" they can shout it out...but the game continues until time is called. Designate a spot the participants are to meet at when they've completed their game board--this will help you know when everyone is done.

When time is called, gather everyone together and discuss what they found. Discuss the meanings of the symbols that might not be obvious.

We've used this as a warm up prior to working with children to design worship banners. The kids often love being able to walk freely around their worship space...including areas that don't usually walk in such as a chancel or behind a pulpit. This is a good time to introduce the word reverence if it's not in their vocabulary (like when you're telling them not to RUN while playing the game). The children become more visually aware of the how and why to worship spaces and often can educate adults about shapes and symbols we take for granted.