Greetings all! Today is Ash Wednesday. At my church, we combine the activites of Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday into one day. What that means is that Children's Ministry sponsors a Pancake Supper every Ash Wednesday right before the evening worship service. So, today is the day when I decide if I'm going to give something up for Lent and if so, what will that be. Some might give up things like stress and worry (although that is not possible for those who are always stressed and worried about something. Others might choose giving up procrastination. I do not typically get stressed or worried and I've never been much for procrastination. So, I normally choose to give up something that I consider a weakness on the food/drink spectrum. I have always LOVED food. Sometimes I am stronger than other times, but this year I have decided what it is going to be....
Drum roll please....
CAFFEINATED DRINKS & CHOCOLATE!!!
I have given up both separately before, but never together. I don't really drink that much soda, but iced tea is a regular order at any restaurant. So, for the next 40 days I will either be drinking water, juice or decaf something. I can already tell you that Cafe Express has decaf iced tea and Fuddrucker's as caffeine free root beer. Chocolate on the other hand is something that I have EVERY day. Whether it is a cookie, cake ball, granola bar with chocolate chips...the list could go on and on. I crave chocolate on a regular basis. The last time I gave up chocolate, I kind of got addicted to skittles. So, no chocolate until Easter.
Now, I'd just like to share a bit about my experience with Easter over the year. For many years, I considered the season of Easter to be my absolute favorite holiday time. Of course, as a kid I LOVED the hunt for the Easter eggs and I still love a good Cadbury egg each year (Mom, I know what will be by my plate at Easter). But, as a teenager and young adult the meaning of the season was what was important to me. It is a good reminder each year of what Jesus went through and I don't know if I can adequately explain it, but I just feel more blessed around Easter. The sun shines brighter and the flowers are more colorful. Maybe it's just me. I looked forward to the sunrise service that the youth led at Flagpole Hill. I looked forward to the beautiful music that Easter brought in both contemporary and traditional worship styles. When I first came on staff at Highland Park UMC, Easter was a big to do. Each year, there was just one service for everyone at Moody Coliseum at SMU. It was beautiful. Now, it was on the verge of being too "showy" with big-named singers and a lot of pomp and circumstance, but for the most part it was just awesome! Also, because of just having one service and no Sunday school, that meant that it was one of the few times a year that we could actually attend a worship service. Thinking over all of the departments here at the church, I think that children's ministry is really the only department that doesn't get to participate in worship. During the 8:30 hour, we are preparing for what is coming. We offer Sunday school at both the 9:30 & 11:00 hours so we are working during those times. So, in the beginning of my time on staff here at the church, the only worship services I could attend were Christmas Eve and Easter. However, a few years back, we moved Easter back over to our church campus. That means, we have church services going on every hour and half our from 7:30 am-12:00 noon. We still don't have Sunday school. BUT...the Children's Ministry hosts a family worship which is in the form of a play. That is available for children 4 years old-5th grade and offered during two of the heaviest service times. For the children younger than that, we have childcare. People make reservations and our childcare staff works hard during that about 5 hours. Last year, more people showed up that didn't make reservations than did. I wanted to wear a dress because it was Easter. All year long at Sunday school we wear jeans and Children's Ministry t-shirts, so I just wanted to wear a dress. Then, one class ended up with 22 kids that we from 18-24 months and so I was in the classroom on the floor in my dress. Not practical. So, Easter for me is spent in a small square of hallways on the first floor that is totally enclosed with gray walls and crying babies. Don't get me wrong, I do love my job, but I really miss Easter.
Thanks for letting me share with you and for all who are able, enjoy the season!
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