Today is Shrove Tuesday and I was too full from stew, eaten earlier in the afternoon, to bother with the pancakes. My youngest said she had them at her third home.
At mass tonight our priest reminded us that this was the last service before the beginning of Lent which starts tomorrow, Ash Wednesday.
I had received an email notice from my church in Plano that the EYC were making pancakes, bacon and sausage tonight for all who wished to partake. Usually most of the church shows up drifting in throughout the early evening.
No pancakes at church for us tonight!
During the six weeks of Lent we make sacrifices as we don our sackcloth and ashes.
Chocolates are a popular one to forego and no meat on Fridays.
Adding a bible study and stations of the cross during the week are also changes we attempt to make to set this season apart from the rest of the year. I say ‘attempt’ because life gets in the way and sometimes we can’t always be where our spirit leads.
Matthew calls this the willingness of the spirit but the weakness of the flesh (26:41).
At mass we give up the beauty of the Gloria and the saying of the Alleluias.
The first is easy, it’s a corporate prayer which we skip.
The latter is harder, it’s linked to a response,
P. (Alleluia) Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
R. Therefore let us keep the feast (Alleluia).
The Alleluia is said every other week of the year except for this penitential season and there is always someone in the congregation who boldly says,
“Alleluia!” and everyone giggles in silence, usually in our pew!
Tonight our priest announced that for a treat we would say the Alleluia twice at the end of mass when he sends us forth in peace. This indulgence with the “A” word caused a genteel sound of amusement from the congregation of seven.
I was reminded that liturgical churches around the world are preparing in much the same way, with similar rituals.
I feel connected to my church in Plano through our liturgically correct church in Beckenham.
All that were missing were the pancakes!
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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