From the Chaplain

Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

Yesterday the Reverend Canon, Karen Cave from St John Anglican Parish, came to talk to some of our Year Twelve students about the meaning of Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.  She explained the seasons of the church to us and how we are in the season of Lent, leading up to the great celebration of Easter.  Karen said that the season of Lent, 40 days before Easter, (46 days when you add the six Sundays) is a time to repent and think about our sin and the changes we need to make in our lives.  Many people give up something in this season.  Karen conveyed that you do not just simply give up something (like coffee, a meal, Netflix, alcohol) you need to replace it with things such as: mending a relationship, charity work, reading your bible or praying. 

I read about the 40-day challenge that some people in the UK do. I have an image of a family-based one from 3 years ago.  I am going to try and do this with my youngest daughter.  The 40-day Lent period starts on Wednesday this week (22 February). Perhaps you could have a go at this too? 

After our talk from Karen, we spoke about some ways in which we could recognise this Christian period at school.  Some of us decided to bring pancakes into homeroom the next day to explain what Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) was about. Traditionally people give up meat, fats and eggs during Lent.  Making pancakes was a way to use up the eggs, butter and milk before you started to fast for 40 days.  My homeroom cooked up a fresh batch of choc-chip and a batch of blueberry pancakes (thanks Bella and Stella).  Gabrielle and Felicity made pancakes at home for the Baudin homerooms and Mr Gugenheim bought in pancakes, syrup and fruit for his homeroom.  We had a few leftover and I spotted plates of pancakes being offered to kids as they were walking down the hallway to their first class. That made them go quickly. 

Mrs Naomi Cooper| Chaplain