Any UNorthodox Catholic folks want to share lenten support? - Page 2

[katheek77]

Originally Posted by enkmom

Are any of you doing Rice Bowl? My parish supports 2 missionaries in Brazil, and there is an envelope in the April bundle for support of those missionaries. Our old priest would always suggest we give up a soda or newspaper each day, and put the money saved in that envelope. The missionaries send back such interesting pictures of things they do with that support money.

My parish also offers a "Walk to Calvary" program I need to check out. The goal is to walk some every day, and there is a meditation to go along with each daily walk.

My church does "One Great Hour of Sharing" which is a coin collection drive-type thing. Each day has something to reflect on, and then you give coins for whatever it says. For example, today's is "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," said Jesus. God treasures you! Give one coin for each year you've known that God loves you." Tomorrow's is "More than a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Give one coin for each time you washed your hands with clean water." And so on....then, at the end of Lent, everyone brings their banks (these little cardboard fish banks) up as an offering. You can choose what coin you want to do, so, for example, for my DD, we're using pennies from her penny jar. I'm using whatever falls out of our large coin jar.

[spero]

Originally Posted by katheek77

My church does "One Great Hour of Sharing" which is a coin collection drive-type thing. Each day has something to reflect on, and then you give coins for whatever it says. For example, today's is "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," said Jesus. God treasures you! Give one coin for each year you've known that God loves you." Tomorrow's is "More than a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Give one coin for each time you washed your hands with clean water." And so on....then, at the end of Lent, everyone brings their banks (these little cardboard fish banks) up as an offering. You can choose what coin you want to do, so, for example, for my DD, we're using pennies from her penny jar. I'm using whatever falls out of our large coin jar.

Oh my gosh, has that been around forever or what?! I remember doing that in Sunday School!

[katheek77]

Originally Posted by spero

Oh my gosh, has that been around forever or what?! I remember doing that in Sunday School!

According to our flyer, this year is the 60th anniversary.

[chfriend]

Wow. Lent is being such a blessing this year. In addition to the usual, prayer, penance, thanksgiving and almsgiving...I've been really trying to hear God's voice to find a home for my spirituality.

My prayers are being answered so abundantly. My dd1, who has pined since her best friend moved *2* years ago just recently deepened her friendship with the person who shares her horseriding lessons. So delightful to watch her get to cut loose playing with someone who so unreservedly likes her.

My partner had her hours cut for next year (with a cut in pay), but still the same fixed term academic position she's had for years. There looked to be a good chance of getting cut.

My younger dd, with selective mutism, is proudly listing the people she can talk to now. We are up to almost 10! She is forming real friendships for the first time (at 4.5).

My job is safe for now.

My dad's back is healing. My sister is loving her new job. My brother found a job.

My dd1's reading is starting to come along. And God is bringing new people in my life to support my "liberal" homeschooling life! Just today I got an email from someone who is thinking about homeschooling, but concerned that her family is not conservative enough.

My family structure was a blessing to her!!

I feel like God is clearing out a lot of old nonsense from my life to make room for a closer walk with Him.

[spero]

Originally Posted by chfriend

I feel like God is clearing out a lot of old nonsense from my life to make room for a closer walk with Him.

chfriend ...

I'm leading a prayer service on Saturday for my Formation for Ministry class, and this statement works back PERFECTLY to my theme (Spring Cleaning our Hearts during Lent). Do you mind if I quote you, sweetie?

[chfriend]

spero...That's just it....like God is doing Spring Cleaning! (If anything I ever say can help someone, please share it.)

[spero]

Thanks!

[spero]

chfriend - I just wanted to say thanks again! My prayer service was well received, and afterward I was asked to be on the prayer planning committee for our upcoming Diocesan Ministry Day!

[chfriend]

So how's everybody doing?

[wolfmom]

hi all! So I have been slacking a bit on my book that we are working on. (Open the Door by Joyce Rupp) But otherwise things are going well. My oldest is preparing for his first communion which will be on palm sunday. It has proven to be quite a good experience for me too! I am getting really excited about it, especially because we will actually have some catholic family members present who can appreciate the importance of the event. So many of my family members don't really appreciate why we are doing this.

I have my female spirituality meeting tonight and I am so looking forward to it. I love this group! The kids and I have also been doing the daily reflections from a booklet by the IHM sisters and a decade of the rosary every day (well, most days!). It has been a good way for them to learn the hail mary!

My thing that I gave up for lent this year is eating anything at work besides fruit or veggies. I work two nights a week and I have such a habit of eating tons of junk when I am there so I told myself that I would not eat anything unless it was a fruit or veggie. I have done well except last night. But I intend to get back on the band wagon for the rest of lent.

How's everyone else?
peace and health,

[spero]

Originally Posted by chfriend

So how's everybody doing?

Let's just say that Lent is proving to be even more a struggle this year, than it normally is. Things are extremely stressful on the home front, and I'm not growing as much spiritually as I'd like b/c I'm finiding it nearly impossible to overcome a lot of hurt and anger and resentment toward key people in my life.

Family dysfunction sucks.

[athansor]

I've been absolutely dreadful at keeping up with Lenten devotions so far. My father-in-law passed away about 10 days ago, though, and while it was expected, it was still a fairly stressful situation. Add sick kids to the mix and insane amounts of work, and that would pretty much sum up the past two weeks. But, I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now, and hope to get caught up and back on track.

Spero, I'm sorry you're going through all that.

Anyway...here's the one for March 13th.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21: 33-43, 45-46
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone"

My Offering to God: I will make Christ the foudnation of my life.

[enfpintj]

Oh! I love and need this. I just found this thread. I wanted to focus more on lent this year. I thought about starting a blog but didn't get to it. no surprise there. My kids happen to like the rosary, so we as a family have started saying one decade before bed. They remind us if we forget. I love this even if ds, 5, doesn't sit still. We are also doing the rice bowl. They like it. DS just put in a dollar this morning, the first big addition. He did say it was the only time he was going to put in that much. I blessed his generous soul anyway.

I wanted to do stations on friday nights but haven't made it yet. DD and I did make it to confession the other night.

I'm thrilled to see non catholics on here. What fun!

[spero]

We had our Lenten Youth Service yesterday afternoon. All the kids get to participate in the liturgical ministries - they do the readings, the psalm, the collection, the music, the intercessory prayers, and everything. The DRE and I served Eucharist.

The music was fantastic. Eight of my youth group kids sang, and one played the drums and one played guitar. Both my DDs sang. It was a lovely, sunny, warm spring day.

Wow, can't believe that next Sunday is Passion Sunday already! My SIL is hosting a Seder meal that afternoon, but we can't make it b/c I have a youth group session during that time. We're all having dinner at her house afterward, though!

How's everyone doing?

[ReadingMama]

Reluctant Catholic mom here! What I've been working on during Lent is going to Mass again! I really got caught up in my disagreements about the role of Tradition and, well, got lazy about going to church. Dh and ds go every Sunday. So I've started going again and I have to say, it feels great. It reminds me of the quote, "Happiness just may be doing the right thing."

A little OT: Does anyone homeschool religious ed?