Ash Wednesday

Today is the start of Lent, a 46-day period of preparation for the joyful Easter celebration. The word lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "lengthen"; it refers to the longer days of spring. Many Christians observe Lent by praying, fasting, and contributing help to the community; they eat only light meals or choose something else to do without. The intention is to find real and symbolic ways to release and cleanse, in order to prepare oneself, inside and out.

At Lent I allow myself to be slow, simple, and thoughtful. I take the time to notice the “thin place” where the ordinary and the sacred meet. I spend time each day in study and prayer. But I also observe Lent as a time of compassionate action.

Agenda for Lent:
1. Journal:
How might I simplify my life?
What compassionate action is calling me?
What might I fast from or do without in order to prepare for the joy of rebirth?

2. Fasting and simplifying my life: 
At lent, I choose something- an activity or habit- to temporarily reduce or cut out of my life, as a reminder that what I truly need is the nurturing of Spirit. It could be evening meetings, computer games, coffee, stacks of clutter, or fear and indifference. I try to choose something that is a good symbol of how I am trying to grow

Last year I worked to improve my diet and grow in understanding of how my eating and buying habits impacted others around the world. I studied food equity, and fasted from meat and added sugar for one or two days each week.

My theme for Lent this year is Homelessness. I really love my home, and spend most of my days here, in front of the computer, cooking in my kitchen, curled up on the couch reading, or asleep in my nice warm bed. What must it be like to have no place of one's own? to raise a family in a shelter? to sleep on the streets? I have many friends who work in my community to solve the problem, and I am ready to take action myself.

My intention for fasting this year is to do without heat in my home for the entire period of Lent. 

Note: Lest you think I am taking fasting too far, you should know that it has been a balmy February here; in the 50's or 60's every day. Still, I am often temped to turn the heater on in the mornings while I cuddle up with my first cup of coffee. This month I will cuddle up with a quilt instead, and remember those sleeping on the streets, with no dry blankets.

3. Daily Lenten calendar of study and practice:
I really like the calendars that some churches publish for Lent, with a daily reading and a task of some kind. I have made my own calendar to follow, and the first week is posted just below this entry.

4. Hang the Lady Lent:
Greek children make a paper doll for Lent, called Kyra Sarakosti (Lady Lent). The Kyra always folds her hands in prayer, and she has no mouth because she is fasting. Also, she has seven legs, representing the number of weeks in Lent. Each Saturday, the children fold back a leg as they count down the weeks.

The Lady, cut out and dressed.

Last year I made a Lady Lent that I could use over and over. Now she hangs in my living room as a visual reminder of the countdown to Easter.

Supplies: Mat board, pencil, scissors, paint, fabric scraps, glue, felt, velcro, string

With her feet.

1. Cut the doll shape out of mat board and paint her face.

2. Glue on clothing with cloth scraps and lace.

3. Add a strip of velcro on the back on the bottom of the skirt, with glue.

4. Cut seven feet out of felt, and sew a small quare of velcro on the top edge.


5. Attach a piece of string at the head and hang her up!

5. Make pretzels:
Pretzels are a traditional bread for Lent because they are made with no dairy or eggs.

Pretzels were invented by an Italian monk as a reward to children who learned their prayers. The strips of baked dough are folded to resemble arms crossing the chest. The monks called the breads "little arms" (bracellae). From this Latin word, the Germanic people later coined the term "pretzel."

Ingredients: 

• 1 pkg. yeast 
• 3 c. flour 
• 1 Tbsp. sugar 
• 1 tsp. salt 
• 1 c. very warm water (130ºF) 
• 6 c. water 
• 4 Tbsp. baking soda 
• coarse salt

Yield: 12 pretzels- 

1- Combine the yeast, flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add 1 c. very warm water (130ºF) and mix well.

 2- Turn out onto a floured board and knead until smooth. Cover with a bowl and let stand for 10 minutes. 

Georgia making a pretzel.

3- Divide the dough into 12 pieces, and form each into a long rope. Twist into a crossed arm shape, and place on a small piece of waxed paper. Let the pretzels rise 20 minutes.

4- Meanwhile, oil 2 baking sheets, preheat the oven to 400ºF, and stir in the baking soda into a 6 c. water in a large pot. Heat the soda bath to boiling. 

5- Carefully tip one pretzel off the waxed paper into the soda bath. Boil for 15 seconds, then lift out with a slotted spoon, drain, and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the pretzels.

Pretzels ready to bake.

6- Sprinkle the pretzels with coarse salt. Bake 20 minutes, until golden. Cool on a wire rack.