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You are here: Home / Community / Lent – Give up and Take up

Lent – Give up and Take up

February 13, 2015 By chippy minton 7 Comments

Lent is coming up – it’s the six (or so) weeks from Ash Wednesday (Wednesday, 18th February in 2015) to Easter Day (or, possibly Palm Sunday).

Traditionally, at least in the Catholic and Anglican churches, it’s a time when we “give things up”. But it is not about giving things up for the sake of it. It’s more about making us better people – and doing something useful with the time or money we save.

So I thought I would suggest a few things that we could give up or take up for Lent – on the basis that taking something up is what happens when we give up not doing something.

What would you give up and take up during Lent 2015?
What would you give up and take up during Lent 2015?

Stop eating sweets: a pretty common one, and one that I’ve been doing since a child. Though I’ve never decided whether or not an ice cream cornet is a sweet. Depends on how hot the weather is!

Stop eating cakes and biscuits: if giving up sweets is just so easy.

Give some money to a charity: doesn’t really matter which one. The money you save from not buying sweets and cakes.

Go to church. Or go to a different church for a few services.

Give up the car. OK, doing entirely without a car for a full six weeks might be a bit much. There are times when the distance, luggage, or time demands a car. But have a think – are there some shorter journeys that could be made by foot or bicycle?

Meditate. Or just sit and think (“sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit”). Or walk and think – one of those car-free journeys.

Cut down screen time. Don’t cut-out online time completely (otherwise no one would be reading Chandler’s Ford Today) but reduce the time you spend online. Include computer games, TV, smart phones in this. How about trying a completely screen-free day once a week?

Speaking of which. Stop watching television. Yes, completely. See if you can get through Lent without watching any television.

Eat more fruit: to replace the sweets and cakes you’ve stopped.

Read a book. Or several books.

Turn down the central heating. It’s far too cold (at least at the beginning of Lent) to turn it off completely, but how about turning the thermostat down a few degrees or set the time switch to turn off a bit earlier.

Fancy knitting during Lent (with Chippy)?
Fancy knitting during Lent this year (with Chippy)?

Take up knitting: your goal is to knit a jumper by the end of Lent.

Do you have sugar in your tea or on your breakfast cereal? Lent is a time to stop. And this is an abstinence that you can carry on after Lent – because by Easter you will be so used to sugar-free drinks you won’t want to go back.

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Easter Day – from Tragedy to Triumph Lent 2014. Lent is about self-reflection and assessing your spiritual life.What Is Lent All About? Easter message 2015 by Reverend Tim Searle, Chandler's Ford United Reformed ChurchMinister’s Letter – Easter 2015 The Crossroad: Brilliant Performance Easter Sunday cross decorated with daffodils St. Boniface Church Chandler's FordEaster Sunday: Daffodils Cross and Easter Eggs
Tags: Chandler's Ford, Christianity, church, culture, Easter, education, history, religion

About chippy minton

I've lived in Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh for most of my adult life, having recently returned after seven years in north-west Hampshire (though remaining a regular visitor to the area).

I work in IT, and my hobbies include bell ringing, walking and cycling. I volunteer with St John Ambulance and am also a self-confessed “born-again runner” having discovered parkrun in 2015.

I enjoy watching live theatre and music, and try to watch many of the shows that are performed in the Eastleigh area.

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Comments

  1. Janet Williams says

    February 13, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    18th Feb is the Chinese New Year eve this year – meals are important throughout the New Year (15 days’ celebration traditionally). And the snacks. Nuts. Sunflower seeds. I’m not sure I’d be able to give them up that easily, if I get invited for a meal or get together.

    Reply
  2. chippy says

    February 13, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    18th? I thought it was 19th – or is 19th “new year’s day”?

    Reply
    • Janet Williams says

      February 13, 2015 at 11:52 pm

      Yes this year the first day of the Chinese New Year is on the 19th, but the most important meal is on the New Year’s Eve – family reunion. I remember in our family, the best meal is always on the New Year’s eve, and on the New Year’s day, we would have the left over or just a simpler meal.

      My mother discouraged the use of knives, scissors on the new year’s day. Definitely you never ever sweep the floor and remove the rubbish from the house (you don’t want money to be swept away, do you?)

      Chinese New Year – during the 15 days’ celebration (plus the new year’s eve), there is always a good reason for food.

      Reply
  3. Ruby says

    February 19, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    In my town, the Methodist, Baptist and Anglican churches are each hosting two ecumenical services during Lent. Unfortunately they are on Wednesday evenings when I already have other commitments.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Open Data Camp Winchester 21 - 22 Feb 2015 - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    February 21, 2015 at 9:56 pm

    […] A few of us from Chandler’s Ford joined the camp, and have enjoyed a day of networking, workshops, coffee, and lovely lunch. The amount and the variety of cakes made it impossible for anyone who was trying to give up cakes and chocolate for Lent. […]

    Reply
  2. How Many Of The Ten Commandments Do You Know? By Chippy Minton says:
    March 11, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    […] Let’s have a look at the Bible during Lent. […]

    Reply
  3. Easter Sunday: Daffodils Cross & Easter Eggs - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    April 6, 2015 at 11:06 am

    […] Lent – Give Up And Take Up […]

    Reply

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