Christians of all descriptions - are you 'doing' Lent? If so, what are you doing?

[roseylea]

Just curiousreally, having read that SmileysPeople is giving up MN for Lent.

I'm v. out of sync atm - didn't even realise it was Shrove Tuesday until today . So I haven't actually given Lent any thought at all but now I'm thinking I would like to do something.

I'm not sure about giving something up - it feels a bit artbirary and not v. thoughtful IMO (prob because I've only just realised it's Lent! ) I go to a CofE but it's v. low and they don't go in for this type of thing much there.

What I'm thinking is setting my alarm clock half an hour early and having that first bit of the day (the dcs have a strict 'no getting up before 7' rule, so I'd get up at 6.30) for prayer and Bible reading.

Is anyone else doing anything Lenten?

[CaptainCaveman]

Rosey I hadn't realised this either - such committed Christians are we!!

Hmmm, what to give up? I'll give it some thought and get back to you!

[purpleturtle]

We're having a frugal meal once a week - soup and bread - as something the whole family can do together.

Dh and I have decided to drink alcohol only with meals (rather than sharing a bottle over the course of an evening). That will cut our consumption a lot, as I don't really enjoy a glass of wine with tea at 5.30, when the kids still have to be bathed and put to bed.

Your idea sounds really good. We tend to look on Lent as a time to put some new discipline in, rather than just to chuck out the odd luxury. (We're also fairly low CofE)

(And don't tell dh, but I'm also going to try to get out of bed in the mornings, rather than using the bf ds2 excuse to stay put while he gets dd to school)

[MaryBS]

I'm doing the "Love Life Live Lent" initiative, which looks to be a challenge.

Even more of a challenge is that I've vowed not to be sarcastic or bad mouth anyone (even if they deserve it!), so I've been getting it all out of my system tonight (the sarcasm bit anyway!)

[PandaG]

Well I am doing what I did last year, and that is wear my ash cross on my forehead for the whole of Lent. We are probably going to do the frugal meal thing too, as I really want the DC to get Lent this year, and PT, may well also copy your alcohol idea. (but DH and I are going to a wine tasting during Lent, oih well it is all about discipline and grace, not law)

[pretendmum]

MaryBS im trying to do that scheme too, although a fairly lax CofE member and at university its proving difficult to keep it up! I'm also trying to be a nicer person and hope to keep up better with my work.

[MaryBS]

At last, I've found someone else doing it!

"Spend some time in silence" today. Well, I won't do that with the children, but probably when they're in bed!

We had a great chaplaincy when I was at Uni, really lively and I loved taking part. My difficult time came when I left Uni and moved to a new area, finding a new church and then people not being friendly.

[franyfroo]

hello there
my ten year old dd and i are doing love life live lent. had a non meat day today.

[Cazee]

I'm a good Catholic girl , so I am 'doing' lent. I am not eating anything after my dinner (except fruit). This may sound easy, but I do like to snack in the evening, so this will be hard for me. I am also making time to pray each day. What is the "Love Life Live Lent" initiative? It sounds interesting.

[franyfroo]

www.livelent.net

[CountTo10]

I've given up chocolate for lent - gave up smoking a couple of weeks ago as well so feeling it a bit at the moment!!

will investigate the website as like the idea of some other activities to be involved in during this period.

[roseylea]

well I have decided to set the alarm clock a bit earlier to pray and read through the Gospels. I started on Wed and I am so enjoying the quietness of the house first thing in the morning befoe the herd of elephants (aka the dcs) come downstairs!

I want to sstart setting it earlier still because I'm finding that the time I've given myself (and more importantly God) isn't enough. It feels goooooooooooooood!

[theUrbanDryadsMum]

Had a look at the Love Life Live Lent website, what lovely ideas. Definitely have a look every day

[astronomer]

I am trying to reduce my carbon footprint by not driving, turning heating down, switching off lights and other environmental stuff hopefully it should last longer than the 40 days

[potoroo]

I'm not this year. I am pregnant so already eating frugally at dinner, not eating all manner of yummy things like cheese, alcohol etc, and general feeling sick all the time.

I am going to try to make more time to pray though. And try to be a nicer person - beat those hormones!

[yeahinaminute]

We've given up alcohol - well apart from St Patricks Day, oh and the other days around that - from Thurs - following Mon as we'll be in Paris for the rugby - but my parish priest has said you get special dispensation to drink on St Pat's or if you're on hols !!! - he's a well known lush is Fr Brian !!

I'll tack those extra days on to Holy week as Lent finishes on Palm Sunday - I'll keep going 'til Easter Sunday and then get rat - arsed on a sniff of the cork !!