Wednesday, January 02, 2008

To whom it may concern

To whom it may concern:

I would like to register an official complaint that having less than a full month between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday is a really, really bad idea.

I have been trying to promote an awareness of this upcoming calendar quirk among the congregation in general and among staff and lay leaders in particular since well before Thanksgiving. However, now that the Christmas dust is settling, there seems to be a general sense of panic as folks gasp, "Lent starts WHEN?????"

I understand about full moons and vernal equinoxes and how all this stuff gets calculated. Still, I must assert that this year's calendar really pushes the limit.

That is all.

Sincerely,
Pastor Rebel Without a Pew
Chair, International Caucus of Pastors for Easter in April

12 comments:

Sue said...

Amen! I've been thinking the very same thing this morning as I browse through the flyers advertising Lenten studies. Argh.

Jody Harrington said...

Hear, hear! This is so wrong!

Kathryn said...

Hear hear indeed! And it makes the time feel very very short before I finish here too - and so much to tidy up and so much to prepare for.
But - I.will.not.panic.
Somehow...I WILL not panic!
Happy New Year ;-)

more cows than people said...

amen!

actually took this frustration as a seed for my sermon this week.

Jane Ellen+ said...

Indeed. A worthy cause, and a silly acronym, in one tidy package.

Let's hear it for ChICPEA!

Jules said...

You've got a witness here, sister!

Gord said...

No argument here.

ellbee said...

I've been whining for about the same length of time. Must be a lot of people with Jan-Dec planning calendars that just now turned the page...

Lori said...

Though not a pastor, I can relate. When I made the gift calendars this year I put my son's Easter picture on April. When I realized the gaffe, it was upon seeing the already printed calendar.

This is wrong. I will rouse the rabble to arms in support of changing this egregious error!!!

Anonymous said...

but the early easter has it's upside too.

It's a rare chance to enjoy all of April w/o Easter "busyness"

And if you do confirmation on Pentecost Sunday. That's May 11this year. Then that is out of the way early too.

It might be a bit like summer vacation starting 3 weeks early

St. Casserole said...

I'll sign the complaint letter, too.

Rev. Sharon said...

I'm happy to sign, but to whom are we submitting the complaint? *grins* The Bishop of Rome isn't likely to take too much note... the Archbp. of Canterbury will just call a conclave, and you KNOW that'll result in Easter coming sometime around Bastille Day so as to not offend anyone... and God alone knows how we'd get it to Him directly without having to go through all the Angel Choirs first... *rolls eyes* We may just have to live with it. But boy... I only JUST got the tree down tonight! *Whew!*

Sharon,
Tongue Firmly in Cheek (tm)
aka TFIC
:)