Lent is fast approaching.

What do you all do (if anything) to observe Lent?

Not sure what I will be doing, exactly, this year, but in the past, I have done various Lenten devotionals and attended my church's Lenten services, and observed a Lenten fast.

Oh crap..when is ash wednesday? I grew up Catholic so I've been doing that my entire life. I don't really practice Catholicism anymore but Lent is one of few practices I still do because I felt it is really important for my faith.

February 17th

Do you attend an Ash Wednesday service?

I started observing lent a few years before I became Lutheran. I started by just observing a Lenten fast. None of the churches that I had ever attended observed Lent, so I was pretty much just doing it on my own, but I found that it really did help my faith...it helped me prepare for Easter and made Easter so much more meaningful.

Yes I do attend Ash Wednesday service every year. I usually just find a nearest Catholic church and go to their Lent service. I agree with you about how it makes Easter much more meaningful. It really help me reflect on what Jesus Christ did for us and how his death and resurrection truly show the sacrifice he made for our salvation.

My daughter gets to go to two Ash Wednesday services...one at her school, and one with us as a family. She gets doubly blessed.

Nice!

I'm not sure that she sees it that way...but yeah.

What kind of church do you go to, now? Do they do anything for Lent?

I currently don't have a church to call a home. I'm really picky and most churches around here are very evangelical which isn't really my type. I tend to view my faith and relationship with God as a personal thing so those type of churches doesn't really fit me well. I've thought about returning to Catholic Church but I disagree with a lot of their doctrines so I'm not sure lol.

You should become Lutheran...yep...

My husband and I actually wanted to become Catholic...we researched it and there were just too many things that we disagreed with...I couldn't, in good faith, become Catholic...I thought about just attending mass without actually joining the Church, but then I would have to not take communion.

Well...God led us to the Lutheran church. It had all the things I loved about Catholicism...and I found myself agreeing with the teachings almost 100%. I was confirmed in the Lutheran Church n December 19, 2004. I haven't regretted it one bit.

The Episcopal Priest , who's family I used o live with.. used to have lent every year.. I just remember them not eating much for a certain amount of days.

I eat big juicy steaks in front of Catholics.

No, seriously though.... I don't do much at all. I guess my denomination doesn't believe in that stuff. I always wondered why all those kids came to school with ash on their foreheads when I was younger though.

We'll be having Ash Wednesday services at our church (United Methodist).

JeffdlS wrote:

We'll be having Ash Wednesday services at our church (United Methodist).

Methodist? I thought I knew you man!

Tracker wrote:

JeffdlS wrote:

We'll be having Ash Wednesday services at our church (United Methodist).

Methodist? I thought I knew you man!

Watch it . . . I'm also a former Southern Baptiest

BryneVampyr wrote:

You should become Lutheran...yep...

My husband and I actually wanted to become Catholic...we researched it and there were just too many things that we disagreed with...I couldn't, in good faith, become Catholic...I thought about just attending mass without actually joining the Church, but then I would have to not take communion.

Well...God led us to the Lutheran church. It had all the things I loved about Catholicism...and I found myself agreeing with the teachings almost 100%. I was confirmed in the Lutheran Church n December 19, 2004. I haven't regretted it one bit.

Kinda went the opposite way there didn't you

I gotta say, I am suprised that there isn't any catholic bashing going on in this thread. Well, save for Jorge's little stab, but he doesn't really understand catholic theology very much

Actually lately this board has become a little more catholic tolerant, I remember when I first joined I got into pretty heated "discussions" with my protestant brothers.

*Bracing for Broc to come storming into this thread*

Well, I started out pentecostal...very much against infant baptism and any kind of liturgical worship...so it has been quite a journey.

My church does Wednesday vespers services with a soup supper before the service during Lent. Is that just a Lutheran tradition, or do other churches do a similar thing?

My dad started pentecostal. And now I think he is more Catholic than the priest. Maybe even the Pope. Haha, well maybe not so much as THAT, but you get the picture.