shrove tuesday.

One of our housemates took the lead in organizing a pancake dinner for Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent.  I've never partaken in any sort of shroving or mardi gras-type of activity so I was excited to participate, especially since we were basically having breakfast for dinner which is always a good thing.

We opened the meal with a simple liturgy that incorporated the ingredients of pancakes.  We invited some of our neighbours and the kids participated as readers in the liturgy.  It was lovely.

God calls us to move on from where we are,
To walk with Jesus on the Lenten journey.
Come leave what you cling to, lay down what you clutch
And find, with hearts empty, that hearts can hold much.

So, we sift some flour, our sadness from the past.
And we add a touch of salt for flavour.
We take an egg, a symbol of new life.
And we take some milk, nourishment for the journey ahead.

We mix it all together
to use up ingredients of the past,
ready to move forward on our walk with Jesus.

And as we share this food,
may we be amazed at the new life
that God is bringing into our lives
and into the world.
Amen.

(adapted from Judith Jessop, Broomhill Methodist Church Liturgy Group)