Forgiveness Sunday

Today is Forgiveness Sunday in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It's officially the last day of the Maslenitsa festival in Russia. Lent starts tomorrow, on Clean Monday, in both the Russian and Greek churches.

Agenda:

1. Read "Becoming Rooted"
2. Ask forgiveness and offer forgiveness

3. Make tyropita (cheese pie)

4. Have a fire

5. Spring cleaning progress

1. Read "Becoming Rooted": 

Today I read #21: We are Still Here, about the hope that sustains America's First Nations people; hope "built on a spirituality of relationship with the land ... This very real hope recognizes that Earth endures and that we can still do enough to reverse the damage done."

2. Ask for forgiveness and offer forgiveness: 

The traditional theme of the Lenten fast is repentance and reconciliation with God. The Eastern Orthodox Church reminds us that we can't have that without first being reconciled with one another. Tonight they have a special Forgiveness Vespers, and at the end everyone takes part in the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness-- each person will bow down, first before the priest, and then each other, asking, “Forgive me, a sinner” and the proper response is “God forgives you”. 

Each person asks forgiveness from, and offers forgiveness to, each other person, then exchanges the kiss of peace. 

Quakers don't go in for any kind of ceremony, but I can imagine that it's a powerful moment. Wesley J. Smith says "The service is a healing balm. It is hard to bear grudges when all have shared such an intimate mutual humbling. Indeed, Forgiveness Vespers is emotionally intense, tears often flow and hugs of true reconciliation are common."

As a Quaker, I have had to figure out simple ways to ask for and offer forgiveness and feel that humbling moment, and I do it as often as I can, with honest words, a note, or a silent prayer. 

Today 

I'll open to awareness of how my judgements and prejudices affect my effectiveness as a climate activist; also, to my deep feelings of remorse for those people and beings I've hurt. Today I offer this prayer:

I ask for forgiveness from those I've hurt, and I offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me - and to those who hurt the earth. In asking and offering forgiveness, I hope to be able to release this burden of shame, indignation, and fear, and move on with resilience.

3. Make tyropita (cheese pie):

Forgiveness Sunday is also known as Cheesefare Sunday. Today is the last day that dairy products are permitted in the Orthodox Church.  Sweet or savory cheese pies are popular traditional Greek foods today.

This recipe is pretty easy to make, and very, very rich and good. You can use your favorite cheeses and herbs, and either store-bought puff pastry or home-made pie pastry. The recipe is here.

2017 Maslenitsa fire

4. Have a fire:
Tonight in Russia, the whole town gathers to throw the Maslenitsa effigy doll onto a huge bonfire. The doll symbolizes winter; they hope that all their problems will leave along with winter.

When I make this fire with children, we talk about the symbolism of burning away the winter so that spring can return. And because most of us have a primitive love of burning things, it takes only a minute for my students to be gleefully on board. We march together out to the fire circle, say a few words of thanks, stick the doll into the ground and watch it burn.

5. Spring cleaning progress:

In March I take the first steps of spring cleaning / maintenance - those big jobs that get put off through the winter months.

Spackled.

Hole filled.

The big job I started last week was to scrape, patch, and repaint the bathroom ceiling. On Sunday I got the paint scraped and found a big hole in the plaster near the vent. On Monday I got the hole filled. 

On Tuesday I got stalled by a drippy faucet, and the need to replace the bathtub water cartridge...

Yesterday I finally sanded and put a thin layer of spackle over the patched area, and today I hope to prime it.