As a child, it was my sanctuary - the only time I could 'escape' my mother's demands was to attend Sunday School and choir practice in the village church, we lived opposite. It's the church where my parents married, I was christened, where we were married in 1989, and our first child, Connie, is buried in the churchyard at the back.
The rhythm of Anglican services and seasons are deep in my spiritual DNA... and I find comfort in them (while being challenged/disturbed by the Church of England's internal and external politics, especially regarding woman and gays). For several years now, I have observed both Advent and Lent by using books written for these special 'seasons'.
This year, I have chosen these companion volumes by Paraclete Press, mainly because they're beautiful hardback books with stunning artworks and entries written by several favourite authors like Richard Rohr, Kathleen Norris, Lauren Winner...
My plan is to read each day's entry throughout Lent and respond here - with either an image, a thought, a small stone - hoping to deepen my experience of the season with you, my blog-friends...
And we start here today, Shrove Tuesday - and yes, we'll be having pancakes for dinner :-)
5 things I didn't know about Shrove Tuesday
1. 'To shrive' is Old English to impart absolution.
2. From the Middle Ages on, the 40-day Lenten fast was preceded by some serious feasting and revelry!
3. Mardi Gras means 'Fat Tuesday' - eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we fast ;-)
4. The word 'carnival' originates from the Latin carne levare (removal of meat), which also ties in with the feasting before the Lenten fast.
5. The word 'Lent' comes from the Middle English lente - the season of Spring (which I have on good authority is still the Dutch word!)
Images of these paintings are in the book
'Ra-Ra' Haitian Carnival Scene by Wilson Bigaud
The Peasant Dance by Pieter Brueghel, the Younger
You post made me think !!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cally! It's nice to know I'm not the only one pondering...
DeleteHappy Pancake Day x
Lots of history in this church then, thanks for sharing it. And have a great Pancake day!
ReplyDeleteYou too, Tammy!
DeleteHi Claire, your blog is beautiful, it has grown a lot since last time I was here, colorful and informative. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth! I'm making it up as I go along, but it is developing, isn't it? Thanks for visiting :)
DeleteReally interesting post. I'm fascinated by culture and belief, so was very interested in the Shrove Tuesday facts. I hope you enjoyed your pancakes!
ReplyDeleteOh yes we did, Jules, thanks! Should have taken photos - two stacks of scotch pancakes in the centre of the table one with choc chips, one with out, a HUGE platter of crispy bacon... hubby excelled himself! There's only 4 of us (2 adults, 2 teens) and I swear I had one pancake (quite large, I admit!), and we demolished the lot between us!!
DeleteOnce again I have learned something new while visiting you. I am touched by the fact you lost a daughter.
ReplyDeleteYes, she died in-utero at 30 weeks... She would have been 20 now! The local vicar got a special dispensation to bury her as it's a closed churchyard, and the undertaker did the funeral and headstone for nothing. The kindness of people can be what gets you through... x
DeleteI always visit the village church of my childhood on trips 'home". My father was the church organist, as well as farmer, and would go down to "practise the hymns" after milking. I would often accompany him and play in the churchyard. Such a place of peace and beauty. Even though years go by between visits, the same calmness sweeps over me as soon as I walk through the gate.
ReplyDeleteI think churchyards have that effect... more so, when it's a childhood location - the memories swirl around the tombstones... They are special, 'thin' places - where the veil between worlds is thin - between past and present, between death and life... Thank you for sharing this, Susan x
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