Time to Shrive

So, it's Shrove Tuesday. According to Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: Tenth Edition

shrive vb 1: to administer the sacrament of reconciliation to 2: to free from guilt

Well, I don't know what that has to do with eating pancakes. The church is having a pancake and sausage supper tonight. It's a bit of a fundraiser. Apparently we're the only church in town doing it this year. I guess I know the origin of the tradition. Use up all the good food you'll be fasting from during Lent which starts tomorrow.

I've never been much of a faster. If you could see my belly you'd understand. My plans for Lent are to cut out snacks and stick to 3 meals a day. My wife conceded some fat free yogurt. It could be construed as a snack but it's healthy and won't necessarily add a lot to my waistline so we're allowing it. I'm also planning to institute an exercise regimen. I bought a skipping rope so I'll start skipping. How's this for a plan? On Ash Wednesday I'll jump rope for 1 minute and each day I'll add 15 seconds so that by the end of Lent I'll be up to about 10 minutes. I don't know how it'll work, whether it'll be too much or too little. I'm really out of shape! I'll also do some sit-ups and push-ups, maybe 10 each for a week and then add 5 each week.

Then I've got some reading plans as well. I'm in the middle of A Year in Provence (don't remember the author right now) so I'll finish that, then I'll stick to theological books for Lent. I've got a bunch on the shelf I haven't read so I don't need to be buying anything new for a while.

Last night we started the first unit of the No Experience Necessary Bible Study that will run for 7 weeks. 10 people signed up but 5 were missing last night. We'll be doing evening prayer services on Wednesdays during Lent. Evening prayer isn't normally a preaching service but the people here like to hear something more than just the liturgy, even if it's read, so I found some sermons on the ELCA website written by missionaries around the world. They also provide soup recipes from the countries where they're serving so we're going to do soup for supper followed by evening prayer. Back in September, if you were reading in this space, we were part of a competition to collect food for the local foodbank. It was only us and another church. Well other churches in the city have taken up the challenge for Lent so it'll run from Ash Wednesday through Maundy Thursday. I told the congregation to think of it as almsgiving, something Jesus encouraged in Matthew 6, so those who want to can make that part of their lenten discipline.

Number One the Day You Were Born

What was number one on the Billboard charts the day you were born? Click here to find out.

On the day of my birth it was "Reach Out I'll Be There" by The Four Tops.

For my wife it was "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel

Daughter 1: "That's the Way Love Goes" by Janet Jackson

Daughter 2: "Take a Bow" by Madonna

Son 1: "Too Close" by Next

Son 2: "Hot in Here" by Nelly

Celebrational Muppetational

So, who are you? Thanks to cats for pointing me here. I'm not in the least disappointed to be Rowlf.

You Are Rowlf the Dog

Mellow and serious, you enjoy time alone cultivating your talents.You're a cool dog, and you always present a relaxed vibe.A talented pianist, you can play almost anything - especially songs by Beethoven."My bark is worse than my bite, and my piano playing beats 'em both."

The Muppet Personality Test

Presentation of Our Lord

Today most people are celebrating the festival of the psychic rodent. Apparently there are some Groundhogs who can forecast what kind of weather we’re to expect for the next month and a half. Today the church celebrates the Presentation of Our Lord.

Forty days after the birth of Christ we mark the day Mary and Joseph presented him in the temple in accordance with Jewish law. There in the temple, a prophetess named Anna began to speak of the redemption of Israel when she saw the young child. Simeon also greeted Mary and Joseph. He responded to the presence of the consolation of Israel in this child with the Nunc dimittis. His song described Jesus as a "light for the nations."

Because of the link between Jesus as the light for the nations, and because an old reading for this festival contains a line from the prophet Zephaniah, "I will search Jerusalem with candles," the day is also known as Candlemas, a day when candles are blessed for the coming year.

O Lord, now let your servant

Depart in heav'nly peace,

For I have seen the glory

Of your redeeming grace:

A light to lead the Gentiles

Unto your holy hill,

The glory of your people,

Your chosen Israel.

Then grant that I may follow

Your gleam, O glorious Light,

Till earthly shadows scatter,

And faith is changed to sight;

Till raptured saints shall gather

Upon that shining shore,

Where Christ, the blessed daystar,

Shall light them evermore.

Ernest E. Ryden