Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Service with Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community and St. Andrew UCC on March 1, 2017

"Remember the remarkable things God does with dust."

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP and Rev. Greg Russell UCC Co-Lead Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Service
in Sarasota, Florida

Wisdom for living Lent in 2017

FAST and FEAST

Pope Francis—Lent

·       Fast from hurting words and say kind words

·       Fast from sadness and be filled with gladness.

·       Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

·       Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope

·       Fast from worries and trust in God

·       Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity

·       Fast from pressures and be prayerful

·       Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy

·       Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others

·       Fast from grudges and be reconciled

·       Fast from words and be silent so you can listen

By Rose Albano Risso

The season of Lent also throws me back to the messages of “fasting and feasting” that family and friends have always shared with me through the years. There are many variations to the theme and thought, and anyone can add their own to the list as they deem applicable to their own spiritual situation. Here are some of the really touching ones that have been passed on to me for my own Lenten spiritual journey:

FAST AND FEAST

Fast from bitterness, feast on forgiveness.

Fast from selfishness, feast on compassion for others.

Fast from discouragement, feast on seeing the good.

Fast from apathy, feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from suspicions, feast on truth.

Fast from talking, feast on listening.

Fast from anger, feast on patience. 

Fast from idle gossip, feast on purposeful silence.