Shrove Tuesday: Burying the Alleluia

Beforehand:

Color in an Alleluia (perhaps one per person, or do one together) on the coloring pages available here:


Decide where/how you are going to bury it. It could be outside in your yard, in a pot or container of dirt, or in a box to be put under the bed or in a closet.

Enjoy a festive Shrove Tuesday meal, perhaps with pancakes, “breakfast for dinner” or special treats that you might be fasting from during Lent.


After the meal:

Leader        The Lord be with you.

Group         And also with you.

Leader        Let us pray.

Creator God, loving Son, life-giving Spirit, we thank you this night for celebrations: for food and fun, for the occasions that fill our lives with joy.  Help us cast off tonight everything in us that would keep us from living the abundant lives you call us to live.  Help us to exult in the goodness with which you bless us, by ridding ourselves of all that keeps us from loving and honoring you and each other, as sons and daughters of God.  Amen.

The Leader explains:

  • Tomorrow is the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday.
  • Every season has a color. Ask if anyone can remember Lent’s color? (purple).
  • Purple is the color for preparation, for getting ready. 
  • We are getting ready for Good Friday, which is when Jesus died, and for Easter, which is when he rose again. 
  • Fasting, which means not doing things, during Lent, helps us get ready to do them again in a special, joyful way at Easter. Fasting from some kinds of food or treats also helps us remember those who are poor and don’t have enough to eat, and to think about how we can help them.
  • During Lent, one thing we “fast” from is saying the word “Alleluia”. Alleluia is a special church word. It is a word of joy and celebration. We’re going to put it away until Easter, when Jesus is risen, which is a time for lots of joy and celebration.

But first, let’s pray together.

Leader        In the silence that follows, I invite you to reflect on what you need to let go of in your life to experience more fully the love of Jesus, and to take true joy and wonder in God’s creation.

Silence

If you wish, participants may share out loud what they need to “let go” of this Lent.

Leader        Let us pray together.

Group            Gentle savior, we now put away the behaviors, possessions, habits and beliefs we need to leave behind to more fully love you.  Help us in the forty days ahead to strive to become the people you created us to be, by the power of your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Leader:            Alleluia, Alleluia. Let us go forth to love and serve the Lord!

Group             Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia!

Then, put the Alleluia into the box or prepared container. Carry it reverently to where it will remain during Lent.

Leader: Dear God, Thank you that you are loving and forgiving. Help us this Lent to continue to be close to you, so that we can love people in the same way as you have loved us.

Group: Amen.

At Easter, or during the Easter Vigil service, remove the Alleluias from their resting place and use them to decorate your home or Easter dinner table.