Ash Wednesday

[Cil]

Well, I think (not sure) but all Christians observe Ash Wednesday. Not just Catholics.

Yeah, I grew up Episcopal and got the ashes on the forehead and gave stuff up for Lent. Am fairly lapsed now, though.
Ocean Lover, your non-denominational church sounds nice.
Ash Wednesday always brings back memories for me, but at this point I pretty much do my spiritual reflecting on the beach, preferably at sunrise.
This is not to belittle anyone else's religious choices; everyone makes their own way and I very much appreciate the non-judgmental SoWal attitude.

 

[Ocean Lover]

Yeah, I grew up Episcopal and got the ashes on the forehead and gave stuff up for Lent. Am fairly lapsed now, though.
Ocean Lover, your non-denominational church sounds nice.
Ash Wednesday always brings back memories for me, but at this point I pretty much do my spiritual reflecting on the beach, preferably at sunrise.
This is not to belittle anyone else's religious choices; everyone makes their own way and I very much appreciate the non-judgmental SoWal attitude.

Same here. I think we have a very special community here. I know not all online message boards are like this. :clap_1:

The same reason I like my church so much too...very acccepting of others and non judgmental. Our minister always says our church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners.

Times when I've felt closest to God have been at the beach alone in the early mornings. Totally in awe of His beautiful creation.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Yeah, I grew up Episcopal and got the ashes on the forehead and gave stuff up for Lent. Am fairly lapsed now, though.
Ocean Lover, your non-denominational church sounds nice.
Ash Wednesday always brings back memories for me, but at this point I pretty much do my spiritual reflecting on the beach, preferably at sunrise.
This is not to belittle anyone else's religious choices; everyone makes their own way and I very much appreciate the non-judgmental SoWal attitude.

Hey, that is so what it is all about. Some need a little guidance that a house of worship offers, some need the consistency, others need rituals. It's nice to know that there is always an open door if one wants to return.

I feel your spirituality as I look at your sunrise photos you post. Very calming and beautiful.
Thanks for sharing some of that with us.

 

[Franny]

Same here. I think we have a very special community here. I know not all online message boards are like this. :clap_1:

The same reason I like my church so much too...very acccepting of others and non judgmental. Our minister always says our church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners.

Times when I've felt closest to God have been at the beach alone in the early mornings. Totally in awe of His beautiful creation.

I believe this says it all!!:clap_1:

 

[Teresa]

I'm giving up SoWal for Lent.

:lie: :lie: :lie:

liar liar.

I just got the whole head smudge. :shock:

yay mangy! I missed ashes today - traveling! mom got extra for me...

In simple terms:
http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/ash_wed.htm

I'm giving up alcohol for Lent so please no one tempt me. I'm serious.

yikes. we'll try to hide our drinking from you til easter. good luck! one year in college, I gave up mascara (believe me, this was MAJOR; now I hardly ever wear it).

I suggest you give up Kayaking, biking, running, or anything else that your feng shuing, organizing, hyper self does other than the alcohol for lent. You might need it before Easter.

good point.


Ash Wednesday, Lent and Easter - a neat time for self-reflection. though not a regular church goer, I love and appreciate all the old traditions and rituals. the symbols, such as ashes on head, are truly meaningful to those who receive them. fasting can be taken literally (no food) or it may mean "no meat" on friday - either way, it's an act that helps you to reflect on your spiritual life.

Glad you survived skunky!

 

[DD]

liar liar.



yay mangy! I missed ashes today - traveling! mom got extra for me...


yikes. we'll try to hide our drinking from you til easter. good luck! one year in college, I gave up mascara (believe me, this was MAJOR; now I hardly ever wear it).



good point.


Ash Wednesday, Lent and Easter - a neat time for self-reflection. though not a regular church goer, I love and appreciate all the old traditions and rituals. the symbols, such as ashes on head, are truly meaningful to those who receive them. fasting can be taken literally (no food) or it may mean "no meat" on friday - either way, it's an act that helps you to reflect on your spiritual life.

Glad you survived skunky!

^^^what she said.

 

[AugustInTransit]

All I have to say about Ash Wednesday right now is, I'M FRIGGING HUNGRY!!

That and I can't find anything without meat.

So I'm holding off until midnight when I'm going to stuff face with the biggest turkey sandwich I can make.

 

[Allifunn]

Isn't fasting involved during Lent? Or, do Catholics relax a bit and give up jumbo Margaritas and opt for the Extra Large in order to empathize with Jesus and the suffering which he endured?

I gave up on giving up. ;-)

well....I see now that this has been cleared up...fasting these days consists of just the day of Ash wednesday

In simple terms:
http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/ash_wed.htm

I'm giving up alcohol for Lent so please no one tempt me. I'm serious.

From Mermy's link:
"Q: Why do they have their foreheads marked with a cross? A: Because in the Bible a mark on the forehead is a symbol of a person's ownership. By having their foreheads marked with the sign of a cross, this symbolizes that the person belongs to Jesus Christ, who died on a Cross."



Isn't that like getting a vanity license plate which reads, "Porsche" for your Porsche? If one is a Christian, and answers to Christ, shouldn't he or she show that with their actions, rather than symbols?




Why have people eased away from the original tradition to accomodate society today? A fast is a fast. From Ocean Lover's link, I understand that originally, people fasted for 40 days, and it states, ""Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water." I am not recommending fasting for 40 days, but to go from giving up extra scoops of icecream for dessert for a 40 day period is a long way from fasting. Are Christians of today getting soft, because Christianity doesn't completely fit their lifestyle? I'm not pointing fingers, just trying to understand why we as a society do what we do, and I welcome open discussion. Please help me understand.

Just like everything else in the bible...it has all been interpertated to suit the needs of todays world...maybe 1000's of years ago fasting for 40 days was not such a big deal because food was hard to come by anyway. In todays world...it would be impossible to fast for 40 days...thus, compromise...give up something that really means something to you...that is your sacrafice. I have many sorority girls that give up during lent, and it is a huge sacrafice...I applaud them! I always serve a fish alternative for them on Fridays during lent!
I have a good friend from Egypt...during Ramaden they fast for a month from sun up to sun down...not for days straight.Seems a little more realistic!

Yeah, I grew up Episcopal and got the ashes on the forehead and gave stuff up for Lent. Am fairly lapsed now, though.
Ocean Lover, your non-denominational church sounds nice.
Ash Wednesday always brings back memories for me, but at this point I pretty much do my spiritual reflecting on the beach, preferably at sunrise.
This is not to belittle anyone else's religious choices; everyone makes their own way and I very much appreciate the non-judgmental SoWal attitude.

I love the SoWal attitude too, girl!