Join us in the Holy Trinity parish hall on Tuesday, February 5th, beginning at 6pm for a celebration of Mardi Gras — or Fat Tuesday — or Shrove Tuesday, as it’s called in the church because of its association with pre-Lenten confession. The traditions associated with this feast day all relate to the old practice of getting all the good, rich foods out of the house in anticipation of the 40-day pseudo-fast of Lent.

While many will be turning those good, rich things into pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, we at Holy Trinity will be turning them into vegetarian red beans and rice, chicken and sausage gumbo, and king’s cake. Come prepared to celebrate in true mardi gras style with masks, beads, and gold coins. Suggested donation to help cover the costs of this fine meal is $5/person or $10/family of four.

Beginning at 8pm, the young adults will take over the adults-only portion of the evening. Come eat, dance, play, and be merry!

Feel like you need some religion after a long night of celebrating? Come back first thing on Wednesday, February 6th @ 7am to observe the feast of Ash Wednesday and receive the imposition of ashes on your forehead. As the day’s prayer bids,

“Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness.”

While the season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, is certainly a season of introspection and increasing awareness of our alienation from God and each other (a reality we call ’sin’), it is also most certainly a season during which we celebrate the unfathomable mercy of God, whose love for us is a constant ‘no’ to every roadblock we try to place between this life and the New Life we’re promised by faith.  And when we “remember that we are dust, and to dust we shall return,” we find ourselves to be in radical solidarity with the rest of creation, which receives its existence and meaning and purpose as a gift from God.  Come see what repentance (’turning around’) might mean for you.  Try it on for a season and see what happens when you can get over yourself and get on with living!

Lent is also a season traditionally set apart for the preparation of individuals for baptism.  If you’ve never been baptized, or if you’d like to make an intentional re-affirmation of your baptismal vows, please be in touch with Fr. Paul.

Questions? Call Fr. Paul at 509.326.6471 or e-mail at paul@trinityspokane.org.

All are welcome — so bring a friend or two. See you there!