Celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday, Shrove Tuesday (also called “Pancake Tuesday” or “Pancake Day”) is the final day before the 40-day period of Lent begins. This year it falls on February 25th.

Its name comes from the Germanic-Old English word “shrive,” meaning absolve. Because it comes directly before Lent, a season of fasting and penitence, this was the day that Christians would go to be “shriven” by their confessor. Shrove Tuesday also became a day for pre-fasting indulgence. In particular, the need to use up rich ingredients such as butter, milk, sugar and eggs before Lent gave rise to the tradition of eating pancakes on this day. We will serve a pancake dinner that evening at 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Please rsvp on the signup sheet on the credenza by the LCD monitor.

The children’s Ash Wednesday Service will now take place in the church at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25th.