burying the alleluia

at the episcopal church where we worship, lent is a penitential season.  the liturgy is somber, and on the last sunday before ash wednesday, we bury the alleluia.

posters are lettered and decorated by the children, and the alleluia is actually interred until easter day, absent until it leads us again into the celebration of resurrection.

alleluia means "praise the Lord," and it is an expression of joy.  during lent, we do not fast from praise, certainly, but as Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness in preparation for ministry, lent is similarly a sobering time, characterized by asceticism to prepare our own hearts for the weight of the cross and significance of easter.

Had I been able to find the liturgy online, I would have linked to it. The following is transcribed from Sunday's bulletin.

The Burial of the Alleluia

Celebrant: 

I heard a great voice of many people in heaven saying, Alleluia: Salvation and glory and honor and power be to the Lord our God. And again they said, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!


People:
Alleluia! The Lord does reign! He is clothed with majesty. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Celebrant:
There is a time to laugh and a time to weep. A time to dance and a time to mourn. As we enter the season of Lent, bring forth acts that are suitable signs of repentance. Remember that the sacrifices of God are a humble spirit. It is a humble and contrite heart that God does not despise.

Until the day when Christ's resurrection is celebrated with joy and gladness, we commit our joyful ALLELUIA to God who gave it.

Let us pray (in unison)
O God, look with favor on your people gathered here. We know that we have sinned and deserve your punishment, yet we look to you for mercy. Spare us, as you have spared your people in the past. During Lent, help us to reorder our lives so that others can see your presence. We ask this in Christ's name. Amen.

Happy are the dead who die in the faith of Christ! Henceforth, says the Spirit, they may rest from their labors. So says the church of its ALLELUIA.

Today it dies until with Christ it rises at his glorious resurrection. When he died, he dies to sin, once and for all. Living as he lives, he lives to God. In the same way you must regard yourselves as dead to sin and alive to God, in union with Christ Jesus. Amen.

People:
Amen!

How do you observe Lent in your church, family, or community?  Anyone hitting up a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper tonight?  I'm a little sad our church isn't hosting one this year, but I did attend a fire hall turkey dinner with my parents, brother, sister, brother-in-law, and kids this weekend, so that will have to tide us over until friday fish fries:)


Mason has a reading tying lent to resisting consumerism, and Kamille is mediating on Isaiah 58 this lent.  More:  Bread And Wine: Readings For Lent And Easter and Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals.

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