Lent at SJF
Ash Wednesday Community Mass
Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Fr Paul will celebrate Mass and our liturgy will be led by the young people of Y5. Everyone is invited. During our Mass those who wish to will have their foreheads marked with a cross of ashes. This is a sign of saying sorry to God for our sins (penitence) and acknowledging our own mortality. The ashes are made from the burnt palm crosses from Palm Sunday of the previous year.
Ash Wednesday also marks the official start of Lent. Lent is a special and holy time. It lasts 40 days and 40 nights and is a special time when Christians prepare for the greatest and most important of all Christian Feasts, Easter.
Fasting
Lent is a time of giving things up. For Christians, it is one way to remember the time when Jesus fasted in the desert and is a test of self-discipline. Christians choose not to eat certain foods in Lent. Some fast totally on certain days; some give up meat and fish; some might decide not to snack between meals and/or give up something they really enjoy such as biscuits, crisps, cakes or chocolate as a token gesture.
Shrove Tuesday
The day before Lent starts is called Shrove Tuesday. This is sometimes also called Pancake Day. Traditionally this was the last chance to use up the foods Christians would not be eating during Lent.
Lenten Class Liturgies
Starting from Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, there will be class liturgies from just after 3.00pm on the following days:
- Tuesdays (Years 3 and 4)
- Wednesdays (FS2, Years 5 and 6)
- Thursdays (Years 1 and 2)
As in previous years and with our Advent class liturgies parents/carers/friends are asked to book first with the School Office staff and then arrive at 3.00pm ready to go to class.
Good Shepherd Lenten Appeal
Mrs Barrett is busy organising our annual fundraising event to support the Bishop’s annual ‘Good Shepherd’ appeal which traditionally supports the vital work of the small Diocesan charities and support services. These help the people of Hallam Diocese which covers South Yorkshire and parts of North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire. She is planning reintroduce last year’s popular ‘Penny War’.
The SJF Penny War
During Lent we will be collecting for one of our House charities, The Good Shepherd Appeal. During the penny war we will be collecting pennies and two-pennies. These can be placed in a class collecting tins at the beginning of the school day. Each penny is worth one point and each two-pence are worth two points.
Silver coins can be used to sabotage another class’ total. Any Silver coins deposited into another class tin will reduce the amount points in that tin. So 5p will reduce the total by 5 points, 10p by 10 points etc. The tins will be placed in the school hall at lunchtime for the children to add their silver coins if they have any. At the end of Holy Week the counting tins will be opened and the pennies counted. Deductions resulting from silver coins will also be made. The class collecting the most will receive a ‘Golden Time’. It begins on Ash Wednesday.
