A Gift of Christian Friendship
Peace Lutheran Church, Galion, Ohio
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The Season of Lent begins with worship on Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 17th.
We undertake spiritual disciplines hoping, in some small way, to identify with Christ's
sufferings. Yet we can never accomplish this to any significant degree because we know
how the story turns out. We know that Easter is coming. Even as we look on in awe as
Jesus cries out from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" we know
that he will soon be forsaken no more. We truly live as Easter people.
Traditionally, Lent is a time for cleaning, in preparation for
Easter and spring. First your soul, then your kitchen, (fat,
butter, eggs) then the rest of the house was cleansed and
purified of the past year's accumulations. In this way,
everything was made ready to face the season of Salvation
and Rebirth.
Long ago, strict Christian Lenten rules prohibited the eating of
dairy products, so keen housewives made pancake to use up their supplies of eggs, milk
butter and other fats. They could easily be made and cooked in a skillet or on a worship,
and the bells became known as Pancake Bells. They also reminded everyone to use up the
"forbidden foods" before Lent.
One story of the Pancake race in 1445 is interesting. A woman had lost track of the time
of Shrove Tuesday, and was busy cooking pancakes in her kitchen. Suddenly she heard the
church bell ringing to call the faithful to church for
confession. The woman raced out of her house and ran all the
way to church; still holding her frying pan and wearing her apron.
Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday each year is a
friendly reminder to come and worship. Lent is that time of the
year that points us to and keeps us focused on Jesus suffering and His sacrifice on our
behalf. Each year our friendly reminder of preparation is our Pancake Dinner, from
5:30-6:30 p.m. It is a gift of friendship! It is a time where as Christians we can come
together.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It is the 40 day
period of preparation for the celebration of Jesus resurrection.
it focuses on the cross of Jesus.
The Brezel is given again to Ash Wednesday worshipers as a
friendly reminder to Christians that Lent was a time of prayer,
and fasting. The monks shaped these breads into the form of a
child's folded arms. They were given as a little reward to bribe
the little children to memorize their Bible verses and prayers.
They go back as far as the 5th century. The monks in Southern
France or Northern Italy as early as 610AD called it the Pretiola, Latin for little reward.
From there it was transformed into the Italian word, Brachiola, which means little arms.
The three holes represented the Christian Trinity. It journeyed from France and Italy wine
regions, hike the Alps, wandered through Austria and crossed into Germany, where it
became known as the Brezel or Pretzel.
There is more so much more on the rich traditions of the Christian faith to share. Our
gift of Christian friendship here is to share with you the tremendous love Jesus has today
for each of us. We want to share that with you too!
We undertake spiritual disciplines hoping, in some small way, to identify with Christ's
sufferings. Yet we can never accomplish this to any significant degree because we know
how the story turns out. We know that Easter is coming. Even as we look on in awe as
Jesus cries out from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" we know
that he will soon be forsaken no more. We truly live as Easter people.
Traditionally, Lent is a time for cleaning, in preparation for
Easter and spring. First your soul, then your kitchen, (fat,
butter, eggs) then the rest of the house was cleansed and
purified of the past year's accumulations. In this way,
everything was made ready to face the season of Salvation
and Rebirth.
Long ago, strict Christian Lenten rules prohibited the eating of
dairy products, so keen housewives made pancake to use up their supplies of eggs, milk
butter and other fats. They could easily be made and cooked in a skillet or on a worship,
and the bells became known as Pancake Bells. They also reminded everyone to use up the
"forbidden foods" before Lent.
One story of the Pancake race in 1445 is interesting. A woman had lost track of the time
of Shrove Tuesday, and was busy cooking pancakes in her kitchen. Suddenly she heard the
church bell ringing to call the faithful to church for
confession. The woman raced out of her house and ran all the
way to church; still holding her frying pan and wearing her apron.
Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday each year is a
friendly reminder to come and worship. Lent is that time of the
year that points us to and keeps us focused on Jesus suffering and His sacrifice on our
behalf. Each year our friendly reminder of preparation is our Pancake Dinner, from
5:30-6:30 p.m. It is a gift of friendship! It is a time where as Christians we can come
together.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It is the 40 day
period of preparation for the celebration of Jesus resurrection.
it focuses on the cross of Jesus.
The Brezel is given again to Ash Wednesday worshipers as a
friendly reminder to Christians that Lent was a time of prayer,
and fasting. The monks shaped these breads into the form of a
child's folded arms. They were given as a little reward to bribe
the little children to memorize their Bible verses and prayers.
They go back as far as the 5th century. The monks in Southern
France or Northern Italy as early as 610AD called it the Pretiola, Latin for little reward.
From there it was transformed into the Italian word, Brachiola, which means little arms.
The three holes represented the Christian Trinity. It journeyed from France and Italy wine
regions, hike the Alps, wandered through Austria and crossed into Germany, where it
became known as the Brezel or Pretzel.
There is more so much more on the rich traditions of the Christian faith to share. Our
gift of Christian friendship here is to share with you the tremendous love Jesus has today
for each of us. We want to share that with you too!
