It's a Friday of Lent and you know what that means…no meat all day! Throughout the season of Lent, Christians abstain from meat on Fridays. This is done out of reverence for Good Friday, the day that Jesus died on the cross. If having a meatless Friday strikes fear into your heart, take courage! Making your Friday meatless doesn't have to be difficult. Today, I thought I’d share one of our favorite (and super easy!) meatless meals - Homemade Tomato Soup. Now if you're thinking of the thin red liquid in a can kind of tomato soup then think again! This soup is absolutely incredible! It is thick, flavorful, and has a really deep, hearty taste. Incredible Homemade Tomato Soup 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 cups chopped onion 2 carrots, chopped 1 tablespoon minced garlic 4 pounds coarsely chopped tomatoes (5 large) or 1 28-ounce can petite diced tomatoes 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 teaspoon sugar 1/4 cup packed chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried basil 3 cups vegetable stock 1-2 teaspoons salt, to taste 2 teaspoons black pepper Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and carrots and saute for about 10 minutes, until very tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste, basil, vegetable stock, salt, and pepper and stir well. Bring the soup to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes, until the tomatoes are very tender. Leave the soup as it is or process it with an immersion blender. We love either way! Serve with grilled cheese and enjoy!

Fasting is a profound and meaningful practice. It was part of everyday life for the Israelites, for Jesus, for the early Christians, and for all Christians, for that matter. Jesus assumed that his followers were fasting and that they would continue to fast. In Matthew 6, he didn’t say, “If you fast,” he said, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do,” because he knew we would be fasting.  Only in the last 100 years or so has the modern world moved away from the practice. For most of the entire history of Christianity, fasting has been part of what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus. We see in scripture that it was a powerful part of the Jewish culture and accepted practice by the Israelites, the early church, and the church.  The first mention of fasting in the Bible is found in Judges 20:26 where it says, “ Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the Lord. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord.” So here is the first time that fasting is mentioned in the Bible but there’s not a moment where fasting was formally instituted or where its function was formally explained.  We can see through the reading and study of holy scripture that fasting was a part of the Jewish life, a part of their identity. We see instances throughout the Bible where the Israelites were fasting, where prophets called them to fast but to fully understand the functions of fasting, you have to look at the context. Since Lent is based on Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness, it makes sense to start with this example of fasting.  You probably know this story very well but it’s really easy to gloss over it and miss the big picture or context in which it takes place.  Let’s look at what happened to Jesus right before he was led into the wilderness.  In Luke 3 we see that Jesus has just been baptized. And as He was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  This is a profound encounter with God. Jesus has this powerful moment where God’s Spirit falls and Jesus is revealed as God’s beloved Son. It is a huge momentous spiritual event.  And then at the beginning of Luke 4, we see that Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days where he was tempted by Satan but rebuffed him with the Word of God and then right after his time of fasting in the wilderness, his ministry begins. So, after a profound encounter with God, he begins a period of fasting, and then his ministry begins. Now, for a second example of this kind of fasting. To the Jewish community, when they heard about these 40 days of fasting by Jesus, they would immediately have remembered another time when someone fasted for 40 days, Moses. In Exodus 24, we see that the Lord called to Moses and told him to come up onto the mountain to give him the Ten Commandments. We know this story but here’s the part that I missed, in Exodus 24:15-16, it says that when Moses went up to the mountain, the glory of the Lord settled on the mountain and Moses stayed there for six days. On the seventh day, the Lord called to Moses again and Moses entered the cloud and went up the mountain where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. So Moses, just like Jesus, has had a powerful encounter with God, he begins a period of fasting and then he is given the Ten Commandments. Do you see the similarities in both of these situations? Isn’t that the coolest thing??? Both have had a powerful encounter with God. Both have encountered God’s presence. Neither of them is asking God for something, neither is seeking a result, fasting just seems to be the appropriate response after having had a powerful sacred moment in the presence of God. Then after this transformational encounter, they both enter a period of fasting.   So, what is the meaning or purpose of this kind of fasting? Well, sometimes it just seems to be the appropriate response after having had a powerful sacred moment in the presence of God. So one type of fasting occurs after a powerful encounter with God. It seems to be after a defining moment or some kind of crossroads. Jesus had a powerful encounter with God and was led into the wilderness to fast right before his ministry began, Moses had a powerful encounter with God and entered a time of fasting right before he was given the Ten Commandments. Here are two more examples of this kind of fasting from the Early Church.   In Acts 9, Saul has an encounter with the Lord and can no longer see. For three days he is blind and in verse 9 it says he did not eat or drink anything. After three days, Ananias is led to Saul, he lays hands on him and Saul’s sight is restored. Here again, we have an incredible encounter with the Lord where Saul is converted right then and there and goes on to be a major leader of the Church! Later, in Acts 13, while the people were worshipping and fasting, Notice, not worshipping and praying mind you! Worshipping and fasting, the Holy Spirit tells them to   “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” And this is so interesting, after the people received this word, they fasted and prayed and after they fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on Paul and Barnabas and sent them off.  This is yet again another transformational moment! This is the very first missionary journey being commissioned. This journey will open the door to the spread of the Gospel like never before. This journey will change the face of the world! So, again, there seems to be this pattern where fasting is the appropriate response to a profound encounter with God.  And just an aside, liturgically speaking, as I said before, we are leaving the season of Epiphany, a beautiful season where people like the Wise Men or Simeon and Anna have had a profound encounter with Emmanuel, God with Us, so doesn’t it make perfect sense to be entering a time of fasting? I think that is so amazing! The next type of fasting we see in the Bible is fasting when there is a tragic calamity. Over and over again, when a calamity is coming or when a calamity has taken place, the people of God fast. In Psalm 35, David fasts when a terrible sickness strikes his enemy. In Esther, the Israelites are urged to fast to avoid their destruction and Nehemiah grieves and fasts over the idolatrous state of the Israelites' hearts. W e also see fasting used as a means of spiritual warfare.   In Matthew 17, a man came to Jesus saying that he had an epileptic son who was brought to the disciples and they could not heal him. Later, when the disciples asked Jesus why they could not heal him, Jesus said that it was because of their unbelief but also because “that kind only goes out through prayer and fasting.” So clearly there are types of maladies or disorders that only come out with prayer AND fasting. Ok, the last reason for fasting, and one that we are probably most familiar with involves turning away from our sin.  In 1 Samuel 7, the Israelites turned back to the Lord. They put away their idols and repented but it was not enough. Samuel also ordered them to fast so for a whole day the Israelites fasted and confessed. Another example is in Joel 2, when the Lord God told the people to turn back to him with their whole hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. It doesn't seem to be enough to pray sometimes. Fasting is required as well. So, it is very clear through scripture that as we are turning away from our sin we should also fast. Fasting helps us to more fully turn away from our sins. And it looks like fasting also can make us aware of our sins. When we fast it becomes painfully obvious how out of control our appetites are and how much we are ruled by those appetites. Ordinarily, I think I am a good person, I think I am a pretty good Christian but during Lent, when I fast something even ridiculously small like coffee, I become really aware of how evil I am. And I am not exaggerating! Through fasting, I see how much I rely on food and drink and not on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The act of not eating brings me great discomfort and grief. I am reminded of my frailty and I realize that I have no control over my life.  Through fasting, we are all choosing to embody this frailty and, according to the Bible, that does powerful things inside of us. When we look at this kind of fasting in the Bible, it seems as if fasting is not so much punishing ourselves, but grieving over the state of our hearts and the state of the world. Through this kind of fasting, we ARE asking for a result and we get it every time . . . forgiveness. In Joel 2:12-13, after the people have fasted and repented, the Lord says, “Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. So, with all of these examples of fasting, what’s our takeaway? Well, it seems that fasting can be an extremely powerful tool in our lives. Fasting seems to be an embodied expression of prayer, like fasting is praying with our bodies.  In today’s world, we tend to divide the spiritual from the physical. The spiritual involves thinking and praying so when I need to be spiritual, I am going to think and pray. And the physical is eating. There is a distinction, they are two separate things. But that is not how the Israelites or the church until recently understood themselves. To them, the two, the spiritual and the physical, are intertwined. Your whole body is involved in worship, in prayer, in your spiritual life. It is not enough to just pray, we need to fast as well. That’s why I love liturgical churches because we involve our whole body: we kneel, we smell, we taste, we feel, we fast and I love that through the season of Lent, the church gives us this unique opportunity to fast.

March 19 is the Feast of St. Joseph where we recognize the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus. St. Joseph is remembered for his faith, obedience to God's will, and steadfast guardianship of Mary and Jesus. His life is an example of humility, righteousness, and the virtues of a devoted caretaker and provider. St. Joseph, though mentioned sparingly in the Scriptures, plays a pivotal role in the story of Jesus's early life. We are introduced to St. Joseph in the first chapter of Matthew where we are given his genealogy, showing that he is a direct descendent of King David. After establishing this, Matthew continues his account of Joseph. Upon discovering that Mary was pregnant, Joseph intended to quietly dissolve his betrothal to protect her from public disgrace. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, revealing that the child Mary carried was conceived by the Holy Spirit and instructing him to take Mary as his wife. Joseph obeyed God and married Mary.  Later, Joseph received word that he had to return to the town of his birth for a Roman census. In Luke 2:1-7, Joseph journeyed with Mary, who was great with child, to Jerusalem. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. They discovered that there was no room for them in the inn so Jospeh searched until he found a stable where Mary could give birth. There, in a humble setting, Jesus was born, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and placed in a manger.  Forty days after Jesus' birth, the Holy Family went to the temple in Jerusalem where, according to the Law of Moses, where Mary and Jesus were presented to the Lord and sacrifices were made on their behalf. It was there that they had a profound encounter with Simeon and Anna who recognized and proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah. Later, Joseph was warned in a dream about King Herod's intent to kill Jesus. Joseph immediately took the family to Egypt. After Herod's death, Joseph was instructed in a dream to return to Israel. He settled the family in Nazareth, Galilee. The last mention of St. Joseph is found in Luke 2. Every year Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem for the Passover. When Jesus was 12, they went according to their custom. As Mary and Joseph were returning home, they realized that Jesus was not part of their group. They returned to Jerusalem and found Jesus in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. Mary asked Jesus why he had done this to him, that they had been searching anxiously for him. Jesus replied, “Why were you searching for me?” “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. Luke 2:49-52 The Significance of St. Joseph St. Joseph's significance lies not in the words he spoke, for none are recorded in Scripture, but in his actions and the virtues he exemplified. His willingness to accept God's plan for him, despite the personal and societal challenges it presented, underscores his deep faith and trust in God. His actions, accepting Mary, protecting Jesus, and guiding his family, highlight his integral role in God's salvation plan. Through Joseph, we learn the virtues of patience, courage, and the quiet strength of faith that acts without seeking recognition or reward. Celebrations Around the World Polish families celebrate this day with a Saint Joseph's table in their house that is decorated with red and white, cards, and candles. In Spain, St. Joseph's Day is their version of Father's Day. It is traditional for children to cook their fathers' breakfast or even give small gifts.  In the Philippines, it is traditional to hold a banquet for the Holy Family. An old man, a young lady, and a small boy are honored as representations of the Holy Family. The three are seated around a table set with the family's best silverware and china and served a variety of courses. Hymns are sung while they are spoonfed by senior members of the host family and important guests.  In Sicily, Italy, St. Joseph is their patron saint. Traditional food for the day is a Neopolitan dessert called Zeppole and a soup that dates to ancient times and is prepared with fava beans known as   Maccu di San Giuseppe. It is also a day for giving food to those in need. Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph Read some stories about St. Joseph from the Bible. Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 2:13-23, or Luke 2. Wear red or decorate your home with the color red.  Make  Zeppole, an Italian doughnut. (recipe at the bottom of the page) Since St. Joseph was a carpenter, let your kids hammer nails into scraps of wood. Talk about the craft of carpentry and how Joseph taught Jesus how to be a carpenter. Or sprinkle a dish with breadcrumbs to represent sawdust. AND  here’s a great mission opportunity for your family! Since St. Joseph was a carpenter and used his hands to provide for the Holy Family, we can use our hands to provide for others by helping to rebuild after natural disasters.  Did you know the Anglican Relief and Development Fund offers domestic disaster response mission trips? This is a chance to use your hands and feet to help people rebuild after a natural disaster, reaching out in the spirit of St. Joseph and with the love of Christ. Upcoming trip opp ortunities include June 9-15, 2024 (Tornado Response in Rolling Fork, MS), August 25-31, 2024 (Tornado Response in Clarksville, TN), and September 1-7, 2024 (Tornado Response in Clarksville, TN). You can learn more about each trip and sign up to join ARDF   on their website! Zeppole (Italian Donuts) 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup whole milk 8 Tbsp unsalted butter 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup all-purpose flour 3 large eggs, room temperature zest of ½ lemon, optional oil for frying, such as peanut oil or vegetable oil 1/4 cup confectioners sugar, to dust Instructions In a large 3-quart saucepan, combine water, milk, butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup flour all at once using a wooden spoon. Once incorporated, place the saucepan back over medium heat and stir constantly for another 1 1/2 to 2 minutes to release extra moisture and partially cook the flour. The dough will look smooth and a thin film will form on the bottom of the pan. Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat on medium speed for 1 minute to cool the mixture slightly. Add 4 eggs, adding them 1 at a time and allowing eggs to fully incorporate between each addition. Once all eggs are incorporated, beat another minute until the dough is smooth and forms a thick ribbon when you pull up on the whisk. Transfer dough to a piping bag with a 1/2-inch opening, or use a large zip bag and cut a 1/2-inch opening at the tip. Heat oil to 375˚F in a dutch oven with a thermometer attached, or in a deep fryer. Once oil is hot, pipe 1-inch lengths into the hot oil, swiftly cutting the dough as you pipe into the oil. Pipe closer to the surface of the oil to avoid oil splashes. Fry 4-5 minutes total, turning them over halfway if they don't turn on their own then transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to soak up extra oil then dust with powdered sugar to serve.

Today, we step into the season of Lent . After the joy and feasting of Shrove Tuesday, the tone shifts. The beads are put away, the pancakes are eaten, and now we enter the quiet, solemn days of preparation. Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. These words, spoken as ashes are placed on our foreheads, remind us of our mortality. They remind us that we are fragile, that we are in need of a Savior, and that our time on this earth is fleeting. Ash Wednesday is a call to repentance, a call to reorient our hearts toward Christ as we begin this forty-day journey to Easter. Why Ashes? The use of ashes in Scripture is a sign of mourning, repentance, and humility. Throughout the Bible, we see God’s people covering themselves in ashes when they grieve or turn back to Him. Job sat in ashes (Job 42:6), Daniel fasted in sackcloth and ashes (Daniel 9:3), and the people of Nineveh repented in ashes when Jonah preached to them (Jonah 3:6). In the early Church, ashes were placed on the heads of public penitents, those who had committed serious sins and were preparing to be reconciled to the Church at Easter. Over time, this practice expanded to include all believers, a reminder that we are all in need of God’s mercy. A Day of Fasting & Repentance Ash Wednesday is one of the two fast days of the Church year (the other being Good Friday). It is a day of fasting and abstinence , a tangible way to mark the beginning of Lent. We deny ourselves, not as an empty ritual, but as a way of training our hearts to hunger for Christ. If you are fasting today, let it be a fast filled with prayer . As you feel the pangs of hunger, turn your heart toward God. Offer your discomfort to Him. Let it remind you of your need for Him. How to Observe Ash Wednesday at Home Attend the Ash Wednesday service at your church. If you have children, talk to them about the meaning of the ashes. Explain that they remind us of our need for Jesus and call us to repentance. Begin your Lenten fast. Step into this season with intention by committing to your personal or family fast. Make pretzels! This ancient Christian food was created by monks to align with Lenten fasting. Made with just water, flour, and salt, its distinctive twisted shape represents arms crossed in prayer—perfect for this penitential season. Cover all of the icons and crosses in your home with purple cloth. Make an alms box and begin collecting your alms for the poor. A traditional sign to go on the container is, “The fasts of the rich are the feasts of the poor.” Place the container in a prominent place where everyone will be reminded of it every day. ( Family Alms Jar Tutorial ) Since we will no longer say the word Alleluia throughout Lent, say goodbye to the Alleluias by having your children write Alleluia on a board, decorate it with flowers, and put it away in a chest, drawer, or closet until Easter Day. Start your spring cleaning! The Invitation of Ash Wednesday Lent is a gift. It is a season that calls us back to God. A time to strip away distractions, repent of our sins, and make room for Christ in our hearts. So today, let’s step into the desert with Jesus. Let’s allow this season to shape us, refine us, and draw us closer to the One who walked this road before us. Blessed Lent, dear friends! Let us walk this journey together. P.S. - If you’d like to know more about Lent, including the meaning, history, recipes, and traditions behind it all, then you’ll love my guidebook, The Liturgical Home: Lent . It gives you everything you need to celebrate Lent in your Home!

You might not know this (I certainly didn’t!) but the season of Lent has its very own songs! Lenten hymns are very different from the hymns of the other seasons of the liturgical year. They play a crucial role in the observance of Lent and are characterized by their solemn and reflective nature. Lenten hymns, like Advent hymns, have their own particular beauty and set the tone for the season. Lenten hymns embody a more penitential and introspective mood, mirroring the season's themes of repentance, introspection, and preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus. They explore themes of human sinfulness, mercy, redemption, and the suffering of Christ. One of the most famous Lenten songs is “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” The hymn’s poignant lyrics focus on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, inviting us to contemplate the immense love and suffering embodied in this act. Written by Isaac Watts in 1707, it is the first known hymn to be written in the first person, introducing a personal religious experience rather than a dry hymn about doctrine. At the time, the music during the church service was congregational of the Psalms. This hymn introduced a deeply personal worship experience with Christians given the opportunity to express their gratitude to their Savior. Consider the first verse - When I survey the wondrous cross where the young Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Isn't it incredible? Those lines absolutely kill me! To hear Jesus called the "young Prince of Glory" is so, so touching. The hymn is so moving, especially the final verse which triumphantly proclaims - Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. It's a masterpiece! You have to listen to it! Another favorite Lenten hymn, is “My Song Is Love Unknown." It is a haunting hymn pondering the life of Jesus, all that he did for us, and how we in turn treated him. Here are some of my favorite stanzas - My song is love unknown– my Savior’s love to me; love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. Oh, who am I, that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh and die? Why, what hath my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite? He made the lame to run; He gave the blind their sight. Sweet injuries! Yet they at these themselves displease, and 'gainst Him rise. Here might I stay and sing– no story so divine! Never was love, dear King, never was grief like Thine. This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend. I have never been able to sing that last stanza without crying. "This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise, I all my days could gladly spend." It's so moving! If you'd like to experience the hymns of Lent, I've created a traditional playlist for you. I think you will be blown away by them! I hope they are a blessing to you and your family! Click the button to hear my playlist of traditional Lenten hymns.

As Christians, we believe that the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the most important thing to ever happen to us (or to the world, for that matter)! God loved us so much that he sent his only son to die for us, to redeem us from our sins, and to restore us to a life with Himself. Just as Advent is a time of preparation for the miraculous birth of Christ, so Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. In Lent, we are on a pilgrimage with Christ. We walk through his forty days in the wilderness and end with His crucifixion, burial, and, finally, his glorious resurrection. We start Lent with a very special service: Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, the Body of Christ gathers to enter this time of devotion corporately. During the service, we look at our mortality and the consequences of our sins. Traditionally, in the Bible, times of penitence were marked by the wearing of sackcloth and ashes. At the Ash Wednesday service, the forehead of each believer is marked with ashes in the sign of the cross, and we are reminded through these ashes that we are “but dust and to dust we shall return” (Genesis 3:19). These are the very words God spoke to Adam and Eve after they committed the first sin in the garden of Eden and they remind us that we too have “sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Ways to Observe Ash Wednesday in Your Home Do the devotion for the day with your family. After the devotion, hand out little slips of paper and pencils or pens. Ask your children to come up with an area of weakness in their lives that they need God’s help to change. Have them write that area down. Make sure you set an example by sharing a weakness and writing it down as well. Set the slips in an earthenware vessel and burn them with a match, or throw them into a fire burning in your fireplace or a fire pit outside. Explain to your children that just as their slips of paper are burned up and are no longer recognizable, so are our sins when we ask for forgiveness.  Attend the Ash Wednesday service at your church.  Make pretzels. The pretzel is the oldest Christian food and was created to accommodate the Lenten fast. Originating in Europe and created by monks, pretzels were made using only water, flour, and salt, simple ingredients that align with the Lenten emphasis on fasting and abstention from richer foods. Its distinctive twisted shape resembles arms crossed in prayer, making it an apt symbol for the penitential season of Lent. Begin your Lenten fasts. Traditionally, nothing is eaten all day. Note: This should not be required of children. If a total fast is not possible, consider eating much smaller meals and avoiding meat.  This is the day to institute the things that your family has decided to give up or abstain from during Lent. Hang your family commitments sign on your refrigerator. Decorate your home with signs that we have entered this season of penitence and preparation.  Cover all of the icons and crosses in your home with purple cloth. Remove all flowers and other signs of spring from your home and workplace so it will be all the more glorious when Easter finally arrives.  Ask your children to go out and gather twigs and branches with no leaves. Tie a simple tie around them with purple fabric and hang them from your front door. This is a very beautiful and very dramatic reminder that we have entered the time ( kairos ) of Lent.  Make a sign that says Vacare Deo , a Latin phrase that means to empty oneself for God. Make an alms box and begin collecting your alms for the poor. A traditional sign to go on the container is, “The fasts of the rich are the feasts of the poor.” Place the container in a prominent place where everyone will be reminded of it every day.  Since we will no longer say the word Alleluia throughout Lent, say goodbye to the Alleluias by having your children write Alleluia on a board, decorate it with flowers, and put it away in a chest, drawer, or closet until Easter Day. Start your spring cleaning Devotion for Ash Wednesday Start the devotion with the lights lowered or turned off. Leader: The light of Christ. People: Thanks be to God. Leader: Let us pray. Leader: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Light the candle at this time. All together O gladsome light,pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!Now, as we come to the setting of the sun,and our eyes behold the vesper light,we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,O Son of God, O Giver of Life, and to be glorified through all the worlds. A Reading from Holy Scripture Read: Joel 2:12-17 (NLT) That is why the Lord says,“Turn to me now, while there is time.Give me your hearts.Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,but tear your hearts instead.”Return to the Lord your God,for he is merciful and compassionate,slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.He is eager to relent and not punish.Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve,sending you a blessing instead of this curse.Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wineto the Lord your God as before.Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem!Announce a time of fasting;call the people togetherfor a solemn meeting.Gather all the people—the elders, the children, and even the babies.Call the bridegroom from his quartersand the bride from her private room.Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence,stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar.Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord!Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery.Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say,‘Has the God of Israel left them?’” The Lord’s Prayer All together Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. The Blessing Parents, lay hands on each of your children and pray this blessing over them: The Lord bless you and keep you. Amen.  The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Amen.  The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen. People: Thanks be to God.

As Lent approaches, families around the world seek meaningful ways to observe this solemn season together. One creative and engaging way to guide your family through the forty days of Lent is by creating a Lenten Paper Chain Countdown. This hands-on project isn't just a fun craft; it's a visual and interactive tool that helps children and adults alike count down the days until Easter while reflecting on the significance of this time of preparation, prayer, and introspection. The beauty of a Lenten Paper Chain Countdown lies in its simplicity and the powerful messages it can convey. Each link in the chain represents a day of Lent. The daily act of removing one link brings a tangible sense of progress and anticipation toward Easter Sunday, making the journey through Lent a time of spiritual growth and connection with the Body of Christ. Lenten Paper Chain Countdown Materials :  Construction paper: Purple White Black Red Pink Baby Blue Glue stick or glue Ruler Colored pencils Instructions : Rip strips of colored paper along the width of the paper using a ruler. Add decorative elements to the strips listed below. Interlock the strips in the order given below and glue the ends together. Hang in a prominent place in your home. As you begin each new day, remove the appropriate link. You will need : 35 purple strips for the regular days of Lent. On the first purple link, draw a black cross on it to represent Ash Wednesday. 7 white strips for the feast days of Lent, including Sundays and Easter (Sundays are always feast days since they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus). Decorate the Easter strip with a gold cross and flowers. One of the white strips is for the Feast of St. Patrick on March 17th. One white strip is for the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th. 1 Baby Blue strip for the Feast of the Anunciation on March 25th. 1 pink strip for the 4th Sunday of Lent known as Laetare Sunday. 1 red strip for Palm Sunday. Put a green palm on it. 2 black strips for Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The order of the strips: 4 purple (the first link has a black cross for Ash Wednesday), 1 white, 6 purple, 2 white, 1 purple, 1 white, 3 purple, 1 white, 1 purple, 1 baby blue, 4 purple, 1 pink, 6 purple, 1 white, 6 purple, 1 red, 4 purple, 2 black, 1 white (decorated with a gold cross and flowers for Easter). Have a blessed Lent +

Happy first day of February! This is such an exciting month in the Liturgical Year as we continue to move through the season of Epiphany! I can’t wait to celebrate it with you! Here’s an overview with helpful links: February 2nd - The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas) February 14th - The Feast of St. Valentine   February 24th - The Feast of St. Matthias, the Apostle Helpful Links: If you'd like a calendar of the entire liturgical year, here's a PDF printout: Or a physical calendar you can hang on your wall: The Liturgical Home Liturgical Calendar for 202 4-25   Current Season: Epiphany The Season of Epiphany February 2nd - The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas) The first feast of the month is The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (also known as Candlemas), where we celebrate when Joseph and Mary presented the infant Jesus in the temple 40 days after his birth. We remember Simeon and Anna's powerful moments with the child and Jesus being recognized as the "Light of the World." The Feast of the Presenation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas) Why We Eat Crêpes on Candlemas: A Delicious Tradition with Deep Meaning Making Candles for Candlemas: A Home Celebration Guide p Meaning February 14th - The Feast of St. Valentine Make these delicious heart sugar cookies for Valentine's Day! Valentine’s Day honors St. Valentine, a priest martyred for his faith in 3rd-century Rome. Celebrating St. Valentine's Day February 24th - The Feast of St. Matthias On the Feast of St. Matthias, we honor the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot following his betrayal of Jesus Christ.  Celebrating the Feast of St. Matthias Make Dabo Kolo for the Feast of St. Matthias Follow along as I share everything you'll need to celebrate this special month in your home!

Happy first day of March! This is a huge month in the Liturgical Year! At the beginning of the month, we continue our Lenten disciplines. On March 10th, we begin to transition to Easter when we celebrate a lightening of the Lenten mood on Laetare Sunday. Then we have St. Patrick's Day quickly followed by St. Joseph's Day and in no time, we are in Holy Week! I love that Easter Sunday falls on the final day of March this year! It seems appropriate to end the month with the apex feast day of the Christian Year, Easter Sunday! Get ready! It's a busy but incredible month. Let us embrace it with wonder and awe! Follow along as I share everything you’ll need to celebrate this special month, including the history, recipes, and traditions. Helpful Links: The Feast of St. Patrick The Feast of St. Joseph Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday

Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, a season of both personal sacrifice and generosity. While prayer and fasting are often emphasized, almsgiving is sometimes overlooked. But giving to those in need is a vital part of our Lenten journey. It reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God, entrusted to us to bless others. One of the best ways to practice almsgiving as a family is by creating a Lenten Alms Jar , a simple, hands-on way for children (and adults!) to actively participate in giving throughout the season. Why Make a Lenten Alms Jar? This DIY craft is not only a fun and creative project, but it also helps reinforce the meaning of almsgiving in a tangible way: Visual Giving – Because the jars are see-through, children can watch their alms grow over the weeks of Lent, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation. Daily Reminder – Keeping the jar in a visible place helps remind the whole family to give regularly. Upcycled & Simple – This craft uses repurposed glass jars, making it an inexpensive and eco-friendly project. How to Use Your Alms Jar Each time a family member gives something up for Lent (a coffee, a treat, an extra purchase), they place the money they would have spent into the jar instead. By the end of Lent, your family will have a collection of offerings to donate to a charity, food pantry, or someone in need. Alms Jar for Lent If you’d like to collect alms during Lent, I created this easy and inexpensive alms jar. I wanted the jars to have the Lenten color of purple and to look like stained glass windows with translucent cells so that you can see the money as it multiplies. This is a super kid-friendly project! Let your kids have fun making it. I'm giving a sample design but let your kids come up with whatever designs they would like. The craft was created to embrace imperfections and little hands! Supplies: Glass Jars (I used old peanut butter and pickle jars) White Vinegar Dishwashing Soap Black Puffy Paint Purple Acrylic or Washable Paint White Acrylic or Washable Paint Money Remove the labels on the jar. Place your jars on their sides in a large pot. Cover with water and add 1/4 cup of dishwashing soap and 1/2 cup of vinegar. Bring to a boil. Turn heat off and allow to cool. Once cool, dip a scouring brush into the liquid in the pot and scrub the sides of the jar until clean. If residue won't come off, sprinkle baking soda on the sides and scrub. Rinse jars thoroughly and let dry. Add black puffy paint in waves, making closed cells. Once dry, hold your jar at an angle and add a wavy design with black puffy paint. You're trying to create individual cells that you can fill with purple paint later. Once done with your design, allow the puffy paint to thoroughly dry. Add varying shades of purple to the cells, leaving some open. Once the puffy paint is dry, take your purple paint and add it to 1/3 of the cells. Then take your purple paint, add a little bit of white paint, blend and paint another 1/3 of the cells. Leave the last 1/3 of the cells clear. Once dry, place the jars in a prominent place in your home (kitchen or dining table, kitchen counter) where you will be reminded to add your alms. Have a blessed Lent! +

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord” Proverbs 19:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” 1 John 3:18 Lent is a beautiful time of preparation. It is a time when we ready our hearts for the amazing work of God’s redemption on Easter Sunday. Throughout Lent, we mark our time with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. While there is a great focus on prayer and fasting in Lent, we don’t hear much about almsgiving. Lenten almsgiving is collecting and distributing money for those in need. When Jesus gives the story of the Good Samaritan, the Good Samaritan does not just pray for the wounded man, he takes care of all of his needs. Traditionally, during the season of Lent, to collect alms, alms boxes are placed on a table right when you walk into church and in a prominent place in your home. As we give up things for Lent, we take the money we would have spent on those things and place the money in our alms box. It is exciting to watch the box fill up as Lent progresses! And there is so much joy at the end to see how much money you have raised and to decide on the way that you will give it away. This year, my family will be giving their alms to the Anglican Relief and Development Funds' Love the World Campaign . ARDF partners with local Anglican churches and communities around the world to identify, develop, and implement initiatives that address critical needs such as poverty, disease, and disaster recovery. Through a rigorous process that ensures projects are both sustainable and community-driven, ARDF focuses on empowering people with practical help and hope, giving both physical aid and the Good News of Jesus Christ. By supporting ARDF , donors contribute to a global vision of manifesting Christ's love through tangible acts of compassion, making a lasting impact on the lives of the needy and fostering the growth of the Kingdom of God on earth. Your support through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving becomes a direct line to helping families and communities globally, embodying the Gospel's call to feed the body, soul, and spirit. In this way, your Lenten journey can extend far beyond your own home, touching lives around the world with the love and hope of Christ. Alms Jar for Lent If you’d like to collect alms during Lent, I created this easy and inexpensive alms jar. I wanted the jars to have the Lenten color of purple and to look like stained glass windows with translucent cells so that you can see the money as it multiplies. This is a super kid-friendly project! Let your kids have fun making it. I'm giving a sample design but let your kids come up with whatever designs they would like. The craft was created to embrace imperfections and little hands! Supplies: Glass Jars (I used old peanut butter and pickle jars) White Vinegar Dishwashing Soap Black Puffy Paint Purple Acrylic or Washable Paint White Acrylic or Washable Paint Money Remove the labels on the jar. Place your jars on their sides in a large pot. Cover with water and add 1/4 cup of dishwashing soap and 1/2 cup of vinegar. Bring to a boil. Turn heat off and allow to cool. Once cool, dip a scouring brush into the liquid in the pot and scrub the sides of the jar until clean. If residue won't come off, sprinkle baking soda on the sides and scrub. Rinse jars thoroughly and let dry. Once dry, hold your jar at an angle and add a wavy design with black puffy paint. You're trying to create individual cells that you can fill with purple paint later. Once done with your design, allow the puffy paint to thoroughly dry. Once the puffy paint is dry, take your purple paint and add it to 1/3 of the cells. Then take your purple paint, add a little bit of white paint, blend and paint another 1/3 of the cells. Leave the last 1/3 of the cells clear. Once dry, place the jars in a prominent place in your home (kitchen or dining table, kitchen counter) where you will be reminded to add your alms. Have a blessed Lent! +

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord” Proverbs 19:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” 1 John 3:18 Lent is a beautiful time of preparation. It is a time when we ready our hearts for the amazing work of God’s redemption on Easter Sunday. Throughout Lent, we mark our time with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. While there is a great focus on prayer and fasting in Lent, we don’t hear much about almsgiving. Lent is not just about personal sacrifice, it’s a season of generosity and service. As we fast and pray, we are reminded that true devotion to God is inseparable from love for our neighbor. This brings us to the third pillar of Lent: almsgiving, love in action. From the earliest days of the Church, caring for the poor has been central to Christian life. In Galatians 2:10, when Paul met with the apostles in Jerusalem to confirm his ministry, they had just one request: "Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." Of all the things they could have emphasized, this was what they asked of Paul—showing just how vital generosity is in the life of faith. When Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan doesn’t just pray for the wounded man, he takes care of his needs. He bandages his wounds, carries him to safety, and even pays for his continued care. That is love in action. Almsgiving isn’t just a nice thing to do; it’s a response to the mercy we have received. Jesus gave everything for us, and in turn, we are called to be generous with what we have. Almsgiving goes hand in hand with fasting and prayer, forming the triad of Lenten disciplines. Prayer turns our hearts toward God, fasting deals with our inner man, while almsgiving turns our hearts toward others. What we deny ourselves, whether it be food, luxury, or time, we freely give for the good of others. Jesus sums it up perfectly: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself."   Matthew 22:37-39 Almsgiving also reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God, entrusted to us for His purposes. When we practice generosity, we loosen our grip on material possessions and realign our hearts with what truly matters. Ways to practice almsgiving during Lent: Traditionally, during the season of Lent, to collect alms, alms boxes are placed on a table right when you walk into church and in a prominent place in your home. As we give up things for Lent, we take the money we would have spent on those things and place the money in our alms box. It is exciting to watch the box fill up as Lent progresses! And there is so much joy at the end to see how much money you have raised and to decide on the way that you will give it away. Set up a “Lenten Giving Jar”  and set aside money each week to donate to a charity, a food pantry, or a local family in need at the end of Lent. (Tutorial for Family Alms Jars coming tomorrow!) Find a service project —volunteering, making care packages, or helping a neighbor in need. Practice small, daily acts of generosity —Cover someone’s coffee, bring a meal to a neighbor, or write an encouraging note.