Wednesday  is Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday.

Traditionally, ashes used to observe the day come from the burning of palm leaves used during Palm Sunday services the previous year.

The ashes are placed on congregants’ foreheads in the sign of the cross as they participate in Ash Wednesday services.

The words “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” remind believers of their mortality — that they are on Earth for a short time.

Lent, the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter, excluding Sundays, is a time when many Christians choose to give up one of their favorite foods, drinks or activities.

Lenten fasting is seen as a way for Christians to identify with Jesus in the suffering he experienced to redeem mankind.

Ash Wednesday and Lent are observed particularly in Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran and United Methodist faith communities, although other Christian denominations often participate as well.

Look for more information about Lent in Saturday’s Life section in The Oklahoman.

———-

Here are other dates to remember:

Palm Sunday will be April 1.

Good Friday will be April 6.

Easter Sunday will be April 8. Traditional Orthodox churches will celebrate Easter on April 15.

Meanwhile, the Jewish faith community will celebrate the first night of Passover on April 6.

(CUTLINE/DAVID MCDANIEL/THE OKLAHOMAN) The Rev. Roberto Quanto, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, shows the ashes that will be used for the 2012 Ash Wednesday services at his south Oklahoma City parish.) 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

Take a picture of yourself with ashes on your forehead and send it to a website that is compiling such photos through Thursday.

It’s all part of BustedHalo.com’s Third Annual Ash Wednesday Challenge.

The challenge is one of the more unique spins on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten season.

It is the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday.

Ashes used to observe the day at Christian churches come from the burning of palm leaves used during Palm Sunday services the previous year. The ashes are placed on the forehead of congregants in the sign of the cross.

 The words “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” remind believers of their mortality — that they are on Earth for a short time.

The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday tomorrow.

Take up the Ash Wednesday challenge by visiting www.BustedHalo.com.  Readers will be able to vote for their favorite Ash Wednesday photo posted to the site. BustedHalo also offers its “2011 Fast Pray Give Lenten Calendar.”

Or perhaps you might be interest in the following tidbits of news and information, all related to the observance:

– Eternal Word Television Network, the cable channel known for its Roman Catholic-themed programming, offers an online daily Lenten calendar with Lenten reflections: Lenten calendar  

– Here’s a link to a printable Lenten calendar for children. The calendar comes courtesy of a website called Catholic Icing: Printable Lenten Calendar for Children. 

– Beliefnet.com offers several stories, commentary and other features about Lent, plus a Lenten calendar: Lent 2011 

– Loyola Press has a variety of online resources for Lenten observers, including screen savers and an interactive calender, among other things: Lenten resources

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

The date marks the beginning of the Lenten season. 

Here’s a Lenten challenge from one faith group.

 The General board of Church &  Society, one of four international general program boards of the United Methodist Church, is encouraging United Methodists to have an “Alcohol Free Lent.”

The challenge is inspired by Myers Park United Methodist Church in  Charlotte, N.C. whose members responded to just such a challenge several years ago. The congregation created a “Spirit Fund” and members contributed the equivalent cost of “spirits”  or  liquor that they did not drink during Lent.

The Rev.  Cynthia  Abrams, director of the General Board of Church & Society’s work area on alcohol, other addictions and health care, is encouraging congregations and invididuals to establish a Spirit Fund in conjunction with their Lenten challenge. Proceeds could benefit a local recovery/addiction prevent program or project of their choice or one of the national projects listed in the general board’s Alcohol Free Lent section on the organization’s website.

For more information about the Lenten challenge go online to www.umc-gbcs.org/alcoholfreelent.

P.S. I don’t drink, but I’d probably accrue a fortune if I donated money every time I drank my favorite diet tea drink. I may find a way to participate after all.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

An Army chaplain is being criticized for calling a day of prayer and fasting today, the first day of Passover.

The Religion News Service reports that Maj. Gen. Douglas Carver, a Southern Baptist and Army Chief of Chaplains, issued his call for prayer and fasting in response to the rising suicide rates among soldiers.

Last year, the RNS reported, the Army reported the highest suicide rate since record-keeping began in 1980.

“I therefore call the Chaplaincy to a Day of Prayer and Fasting, in keeping with your religious traditions, to be observed on 8 April 2009 that the united cry of our Corps will be heard and answered regarding the protection, preservation, and peace for our Soldiers and Families,” Carver said in his proclamation, which was issued March 2.

The RNS reported that Carver told Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Convention’s official news agency, that “April 8 is a Wednesday and prayer meeting night for Southern Baptists, so we really encourage not only Baptists but all local churches to pray for the military.”

The Religion News Service pointed out that Carver, as chief of chaplains, has oversight of Army chaplains of all faiths, including Jewish rabbis.

The news service said dozens of Jewish soldiers and chaplains have filed complaints with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a watchdog group that advocates religious neutrality in the military. Mikey Weinstein, president of the group, told the RNS that there has been a “tsunami” of complaints against the Day of Prayer, and believes the conflict with Passover is inexcusable.

“The fact that this would fall on this same day is not just wrong or bad, but unforgivable, and Carver should be severely disciplined,” Weinstein said.

Weinstein’s group is currently suing the Department of Defense for a “pernicious and pervasive pattern and practice of unconstitutional rape of the precious religious freedoms” of those in the military, and the group believes the Day of Prayer is just the latest example, the RNS reported.

The Jewish holiday of Passover begins at sundown. It commemorates the Israelites exodus from Egypt. A seder, a ceremonial meal traditionally held during Passover, is typically held on the first and second nights of the holiday. 

(PHOTO above taken by Jaconna Aguirre, The Oklahoman)

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

I wrote a column before Christmas about being thankful for things that money can’t buy, things that I think come from God, like love and compassion. Then my house was burglarized and some items were taken that I had bought for my children.

Recently I blogged about possibly fasting or abstaining from some of my favorite old sitcoms like “Frasier” during Lent.  Then this past Saturday, I wrote a column about being mindful of the spiritual premise of fasting.

Well Sunday my own pastor called an all-church fast for one week.

We are to abstain from meat, breads, sugar or sweetener, fried foods and soft drinks. Add to this list items with sugar – and there’s to be no salt to season the food we do eat. 

I’m going to be straight — the food part is something that my family has adjusted to pretty well. We can eat fruits, vegetables, 100% fruit juice and whole grains. We can use herbs for seasoning. It has definitely given us a new appreciation for all the splendid varieties of fruits and vegetables. And salt — I never knew I loved ya.

Here’s the kicker: We also are fasting from television, movies and the Internet, although the Internet can be used for Bible study.

We are to use this time of fasting to pray, particularly with our families.

Without the TV and Internet (this includes video games, I had to tell my son) , there should be ample family time and moments to reconnect and explore biblical teachings and each other.

So my plan to possibly abstain from sitcoms became a literal fast. I have to tell you, I don’t think I would have done it all by myself. It’s one week and I’m sure I will make it. One loooonnngggg week, but yes, I will make it through.

Who can ever question whether or not God had a sense of humor?

Of course He does!

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

According to a variety of different sources, pretzels were viewed as Lenten treats for several reasons.

They were made from a special dough consisting of only flour, salt and water since fat, eggs and milk were forbidden during Lent. They were shaped in the form of two arms crossed in prayer to remind people that Lent was a season of penance and devotion.

Often, pretzels were distributed to the poor during Lent. And one Web site says that the three holes in the pretzel are to represent the Trinity.  

Obviously pretzels are now a year-round treat.

However, it’s interesting to realize that this particular treat, dubbed “the world’s oldest and most popular junk food” by the Web site newyorkcarver.com, is especially favored during the Lenten season.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor  

The more I think about the so-called Facebook Lenten fast, the more I think that it is an idea whose time has come.

Here’s what I think about it.

At my house, my teens are often arguing about computer usage.

Who’s getting on the computer?

Who forgot to turn off the monitor? … the printer?…

Having more than one computer doesn’t help either.  

You see, one teen wants to get on the computer that his sibling is on for any number of reasons.

And so it goes.

Sometimes, I play referee by just shutting down all the computers.

So, I look at the idea of adults fasting from Facebook this Lenten season with a new perspective. Plus I just read a story about school students in England who are fasting from the social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace during Lent: Schoolchildren fast. 

I like this idea! I LOVE this idea!

Not that my kids are all that into the social networking sites. I’m just thinking that perhaps an Internet ”fast” could be in order. Limiting the amount of time spent on the Internet isn’t a bad idea anyway, particularly if there is no homework involved.

I’m going to broach the subject with the teens, see what happens.

I’ve already got another idea: How about a fast from video games?

That should go over well with my son … 

Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

Roman Catholics traditionally abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, the 40 days before Easter Sunday.

Christ the King is selling Lenten enchilada dinners from 3 to 6 p.m. today and Friday, April 3. The dinners include 12 cheese enchiladas, rice, beans, chips and salsa. Cost is $20 per order and folks interested in the Mexican fare can pick their orders up at the church in drive-thru fashion. The church is at 8005 Dorset Drive in Nichols Hills.

All proceeds benefit the church’s Peru Mission Trip Maintenance/Expenses Fund.

For more information, call the church at 842-1481.

Look for more Lent-related blog postings here on the Religion and Values blog in the days ahead. 

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor   

Most folks fast from eating certain foods during Lent.

A few years back we talked to several readers and found that chocolate and sweets, in general, were some of the food items many people vowed to stay away from during the season. One young lady hoped to give up soft drinks for the season. 

Lots of other people abstain from other things like certain behaviors or habits.

I used to attend a United Methodist church here in the city and I found the Lenten season very meaningful.

With those memories in mind, I have wondered if I might sacrifice or give up something for Lent.

I don’t think giving up some type of food would be very meaningful because I am doing that anyway as part of a weight loss program that begins this week.

However there are a few habits that I could forego that would reflect a great sacrifice. 

One of them is my penchant for watching old sitcoms at the end of the day.

I tape some of my favorites like “Frasier” and then I might catch “The Cosby Show” on Nick at Nite or “The Golden Girls” on Lifetime.

Now giving up my nightly ritual of watching those shows — that I’ve probably seen a thousand times — would be a sacrifice.

I could instead use that time to entend my prayer time and bible-reading.

It’s something to think about.

I’ll decide soon. The night wears on and my handoften creeps to the remote about this time …