In Between Bites of Pancakes

Lent begins tomorrow and if you are in the Church business you’ve probably already considered Lenten plans, but here are some last minute ideas I love:

• Marie Kondo-ing 40 gifts.  Some congregations are asking people to collect an item a day for the 40 days of Lent.  Items for a women’s shelter (shampoo, razors, shaving cream, tampons, lip gloss, tooth paste) or items for schools (notebooks, pens, markers, tissues) or items for refugees (gift cards, diapers, laundry soap) – all presented on Holy Week to be shared with those in need.  Each day, as you place one item in your home collection box, pray for the person who will eventually receive this item and thank God for the privilege of sharing it. Spark joy, people!
• Thirty Pieces of Silver.  Invite people to bring 30 pieces of silver (quarters, nickles, dimes) to Maundy Thursday services (April 18th, 2019) and – while walking forward for The Last Supper – they drop the coins into an empty baptismal font.  The sound of clanging coins during a solemn service can be very moving. The donations are given to an organization supporting people who have been betrayed (abused women, abused children, people falsely convicted of crimes, the homeless.)
• Lenten Photo Challenge. As you go through each day in Lent, take a photo of something you notice involving the suggested word of the day.  Here are a couple lists I like:

Post your photos on Instagram or other social media sites with the word/words printed on your photo.  (These examples are from Busted Halo and Tim and Olive.)

Lent not only has the best hymns, but it’s also one of the most spiritual nourishing seasons of the year.  Between bites of pancakes today, ponder a discipline that feeds you for the next 40 days.