Dear friends in Christ,
These are strange times. Who would have imagined that the other bracket-based tournament that takes place in March — the one where a “three pointer” doesn’t refer to the Holy Trinity — would be canceled? And while we’re pleased to claim the title of Longest-Running Consecutive Madness in the World, we would have preferred to receive this honor under different circumstances.
In all seriousness, we know that many of you are struggling mightily right now, in one way or another. There is much fear and uncertainty in our midst. The good news is that we’re all in this together, as fellow pilgrims on this journey of life and faith.
Some of you will find yourself unable to attend worship services or other meetings in your local churches. We hope you’ll take advantage of whatever connections are offered from your church or denomination. We also hope neighbors will care for one another, offering hope and comfort, strength and solace; thereby literally carrying out the second great commandment Jesus gave us, to love our neighbors.
Many people will be longing for connection, and we wanted to let you know that Lent Madness isn’t going anywhere. It may seem incongruous to engage in such frivolity during a public health crisis, but we have heard from many of you that the joy you experience here is important now more than ever. And you can experience that joy in the comfort and safety of your own home.
We often say that Lent Madness is an exception to the usual internet rule, “Do not read the comments.” Indeed, the pop-up Lenten community that forms around this online devotion is one of the great joys of this ministry. Here, the comments are often edifying, and even encouraging. Sure, we may trade some friendly trash-talk about those who oppose our favorite saints, but mostly the comments are a beacon of lively joy in an age where that is a rare commodity. We trust that commenters will continue to be careful with one another, as we are all carrying great fragility.
It seems we need the example of the saints more than ever in this moment of time. Allow them into your lives as bearers of hope and perseverance.
Forward Movement, our sponsor, is one of many church-related ministries sharing resources during this time. If you have others that you’d like people to know about, please share them in the comments.
If you’re looking for resources to support prayer and worship at home, check out a free ChurchNext online course, Prayer and Worship in Our Homes. This is a set of free (!) classes that will help you and your family if you’re finding yourself unable to get to church. Among the sessions, there’s a class on prayer with the saints taught by none other than the Supreme Executive Committee. There are other free ChurchNext classes too, and you can read about them in this recent announcement.
Lots of Episcopalians and others find it helpful to start the day with Morning Prayer, or maybe end the day with Evening Prayer. These are sets of prayers, psalms, and scripture readings taken from the Book of Common Prayer. You don’t have to be Episcopalian to find this helpful! You can find the prayers on the Forward Movement website. Depending on what time of day you visit, you’ll get morning prayer, noonday prayer, evening prayer, or compline (prayers for the end of day). If you prefer, you can listen to a podcast, A Morning at the Office. These are all free.
Forward Movement is known around the world for its popular daily devotion, Forward Day by Day. That too is posted every day online, and it’s available as a podcast.
Of course, if your church is offering online worship, we hope you’ll take advantage of that. If not, you can tune in to the Washington National Cathedral, where the Episcopal Church’s Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is preaching tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. EDT. They’ll be around every Sunday with great stuff.
There are more resources on the way, and we’ll watch the comments for your ideas. We’re glad to gather up some more resources and post more in a few days.
Please care for one another, and do not neglect to care for yourself. We’re in this for the long haul, probably. Jesus Christ has promised to abide with us, and for that we can be eternally grateful.
Let us pray.
O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Remember, friends, what Lent Madness is all about. Each one of the saints was a beacon of Christ’s light and love. Each of the saints is in heaven praying for you. We are never alone.
Tim Schenck+ Scott Gunn+
Thank you so much for this posting today. I think we all need it as we face the next few weeks!
Peace and good health to all of you!
Thank you for this wonderful reminder that the saints are praying for us!
It is comforting to know that there are “neighbors” around us, praying together to honor God, and to ask for his mercy and blessing.
You guys are awesome. Thank you so much!
Thank you, SEC. You, your families, and your ministries are in my prayers. You are a light in the darkness.
This made me feel very comforted. I treasure this “pop-up” community. Blessings friends.
Well said, and thank you!
Thank you. Encouraging words in the midst of anxious times!
The Daily Office has Episcopal morning and evening prayer every day (6:30 and 9 EST), and has added two Sunday (9 and 11 EST) Morning Prayer services. Many participants from around the world and around the Christian community (not just Anglicans). They can be found at https://dailyoffice.wordpress.com/
Thank you Christine. The Daily Morning Prayer services live are actually at 7 am and 9 am EDT. Weekly Evensong is Friday, live, at 9 pm EDT. And yes there will be two services on Sundays now as you correctly noted: 9 am and 11 am EDT. The Sunday services will continue until churches are open again. The Daily Office Network also offers podcasts of Evening Prayer every day, and the full texts for Morning and Evening Prayer, with art and music, for every day.
Thank you! You offer reassurance and practical help in a troubling time. God bless you.
Thiank you. I look forward to voting and learning about saints. You are a blessing!
Thank you for these encouraging thoughts. Our church will not be holding any services or programs for the next two weeks.
Thank you for today’s post.
Any chance you could go through bios of saints from past years and find some role models for pandemic times, then post them again?
Julian of Norwich lived during the time of the 14th c. bubonic plague, or “Black Death,” in England. She’s wonderful. “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well” has gotten me through many dark days.
Thank you for reminding me of that lovely sentence,
thanks – for the words.
Thank you!
Tim and Scott–Wasn’t Julian one of the nominees in past years?
Can we see again?
Susan, thank you for All Shall Be Well…..
Thank you for reminding me of Lady Julian’s comforting words. She is one of my favorite mystics. My own church home, Christ Church United Methodist in Manhattan, NYC, is offering online worship services for the duration. I’ve been enjoying Lent Madness for 10+ years or so, and find every bit of it so inspiring and helpful, especially the humor! All of you are in my grateful prayers today.
I usually wear a turquoise turtle on a chain necklace. The turtle is resting; I have replaced him (for the time being) with my Julian of Norwich medal with her prayer on it.
Thank you!
Thank you for this post and for the way that it us helping each of us cope with these anxious times. I usually don’t comment on public forum such as this, but I think we all need some way to feel connected. This is my first year participating in Lent Madness. I thought it would be fun, but I did not expect it to be quite this enjoyable! Of course, who expected that March Madness would be taken away… . Thanks for all you do. Keep the faith.
Thank you for letting us keep this piece of normalcy. ❤️
Dear Scott and Tim – What extraordinary pastors and priests you are! What extraordinary human beings! And what brilliant and inspiring messages. Today’s is especially one to cherish. I have loved the Forward movement since I first “discovered” it about a decade ago. And then there’s Lent Madness” -a delight in every way. Thank you for your guidance, your leadership, your intellect, your sense of humor (senses of humors???) , and most of all, your faith.
Tbis post reaffirms my commitment to voting! Thank you for bringing levity, information, and community to each of us as we weather this storm. May God keep each and every Lent Madness Friend safe.
Thank you so much for the thoughtful and uplifting message – for me here in Japan I am reading it on Sunday morning and indeed not attending services. In fact, because of being a healthy elder, I do not go anywhere (no need for car that I do not have) would not use public transportation, Carefully doing shopping locally. So true about the saints. After reading about and voting, I bought on my kindle, “The Practice and Presence of God (in modern English). Let me say, too, I have been reading some humorous books, too. After all, some laughter helps, too.
Thank you, SEC. I look forward to completing my brackets (even though it’s already busted).
This was wonderful! Thank you for your uplifting words and thoughts! They are deeply appreciated, along with the resource suggestions❣
Thank you, Tim and Scott.
I surely hope the text of Bishop Curry’s sermon at the Cathedral will be available for those of us whose internet connection will not let us listen online (too much bandwidth) my computer tells me.
Thank you, SEC! I look forward to Lent Madness every year, and this year the learnings, levity, and camaraderie are needed more than ever!
Lovely. Thank you.
This may be a virtual community but it’s still a community. And that sure helps during this challenging time. It’s good to have something to look forward to during this challenging time.
Without the saintly brackets, there would be no joy………….
Thank you for Lent Madness!!
Lovely, Tim and Scott. Thank you.
Thank you, SEC, you two zany and wonderfully appropriate pastoral fellows. Your sensitivity and timing have been perfect I’ve greatly appreciated your Ash Wednesday and today’s notes to the Lent Madness community. Much appreciated.
This is just so great! Full of useful liturgical resources during these uncertain times. Thank you so much!
Thank you all for posting this. I finally spent some time this afternoon “catching up” on all the posts I missed over the last week or so as things in the educational world spiraled into chaos. I’m so thrilled this will continue. I look forward to this as a daily devotion (and distraction) in the midst of everything else. Take care, everyone.
I’ve been wondering what happened to Oliver, the litle boy who used to post wonderful comments about the choices on the bracket every day. Did he grow up and move on, or have I just not seen his comments?
I too, have wondered about him, SEC, any news?
I miss his comments, too. I hope he is well!
Thank you for sharing the links SEC. For those of us who attend a parish every Sunday, this is very difficult. Lent Madness is a positive during a time that is very stressful.
thanks for this time to reflect with some humor on what makes for a saint – we do need to stay connected in these times – you are doing your part
Thank you. This post comes just at the right time. My parishes are all closed through March, and it feels very strange and isolating not to have a physical church to go to. It has been snowing here most of the day. Our little band of pilgrims, though virtual, is very real and precious. Peace to all of you; stay warm, dry, and well. (Wash your hands! Don’t touch your face!)
Thank you!
All things must pass…
Thank you for this great, and unexpected post. Lent Madness is a touch of sanity in an insane time.
Thank you for all you do! Lent Madness helps me remember what is really important.
Thank you.
Lent Madness is a positive in each of my days.
Thank you! From a parish priest who spent the last three days reordering the life of the congregation he serves in preparing to offer live-streamed worship for the first time in his life, these words, and even more the spirit behind them comet is a great gift in this time.
I have always relied on that great cloud of witnesses as my beacon and comfort. And I get the opportunity to dig deeper into them in Lent Madness. Thanks for the resources you listed here.
This is my first year of Lent Madness. I much prefer this madness to the madness we are all experiencing. May those of us here pray for those who wait, or watch, or worry, and those who are physically and economically vulnerable in this time of uncertainty.
God’s peace be with us all, and may His hand guide us in the times to come.
Such an encouraging post! Many thanks, Scott and Tim, for your encouragement.
Stay well!
thank you so much for this email this evening. what a blessing. so grateful to you and the community as a whole for the connections being nurtured.
Thank you for these encouraging words and that lovely prayer.
Thank you for these Comfortable Words!
You are just what I needed to hear today because my husband & I are 76 years old and not in the best health so to please our very worried children we are staying home from church tomorrow. This is very hard for us because we love our church. Thank you for the resources and I think we will tune into the National Cathedral tomorrow.
Thank you Lenten Madness, for the Lenten discipline you give us today, and every day through this season. And thank you for reminding us of Bp. Curry’s sermon tomorrow morning. May we all also adda prayer of Thanksgiving for the life and ministry of Barbara Harris, our first female Bishop ordained in the Anglican communion. May she rest with Jesus in eternal love.
Love you guys right back.
I do so love this Lenten offering and this community – I cannot overstate how grounding it is in this time of worldwide uncertainty. The gifts given to us through learning about the lives of these saints, and the humor we can share in the process, are so life-affirming. Thank you, SEC, and all who are involved.
Thank you for your thoughts and care.
Thank you.
Thank you for Lenten Madness. This is my first year of it and I am really enjoying re.reading about saint that I know already and learning about others who I do not know yet. Thank you also for todays post. I am also a bit anxious about our current medical climate and hoping for the best for everyone. Its a difficult time for all concerned. So thank you .
A welcome note of encouragement, levity and hope. Thank you for this grace note at such a fraught time.
I join this great cloud of witnesses in affirming that your post today gave us all comfort in an incredibly uncomfortable and challenging time! Thank you. Thank you, too, for the joy, inspiration, and community Lent Madness gives us.
God bless you all & us.
Wow! So many comments. I am so appreciative of this faith community, especially in this time of crisis. My own family is safe and well, but on the other side of this huge country from me…5 hours by plane, so I really need you all right now. Thank you for being with me, and so many others in ways that matter most. I will be here for you and others in my own community, too. Let us practice what we know is Christ’s example, by truly loving each other. And a humorous word here and there will help so much!
Blessings and many thanks
Scott and Tim, I have long appreciated your faith and your humor. Maybe now more than ever. My husband and I had to make the tough decision to stay home from church during this trying time. This is VERY hard for us as we are devoted to our church and church family. With so few testing kits and few testing centers, who knows how many actually carry the virus? I am susceptible to respiratory illnesses; my husband doesn’t want to go to crowded places where he might contract it and bring it home to me. We aren’t afraid to shop because one can be in and out of stores in a relatively short time. Church is a different matter and we sing in the choir.
Thank you for shining that candle of faith for us all, Tim and Scott! It is so very appreciated!
PS: Love that purple sidebar!!
Linda, I also will be missing singing tomorrow, I sing in 2 groups, the traditional & the contemporary. Bless you and all of us. We will have to sing in the shower…”Seek ye first the kingdom of God….”
Thank you for the positivity…I am loving the Lenten Madness, and these comments and links for services and prayers are a true blessing!
Thank you, SEC. I am so relieved that Lent Madness is resistant to covid-19.
I love Lent Madness so much.
To read stories, so well presented by the writers, is an inspiration — all of these saints, who lived courageously in their times and ways — and lift us in these days when fear and uncertainty are so rampant. It is good to connect with the greater stories through the ages. Lent Madness is most needed right now to lift out of fear and uncertainty into the eternal love of God for us all.
You are a light in our darkness bringing hope and God’s love in a time of trial for many.
Thank you so much! I appreciate all the comments and in particular those of Jack Zambonie. As a fellow parish priest, I have done nothing in the last three days that has not been marked by questions and concerns and contingencies related to the corona virus, worship, and pastoral care. And I, too, will be live-streaming tomorrow for the first time, ever. Blessings to the SEC and all involved in the joy of Lent Madness—and all, as we deal with the madness around us!
Thank you Scott and Tim. In the midst of this public health crisis, we need Lent Madness more than ever.
Thank you. It seems conditions change hourly. No church for me tomorrow. I would like to hear Bishop Curry’s sermon tomorrow. I greatly appreciate all the joy Lent Madness brings, and now in this time of uncertainty the thoughtfulness and love it brings as well. I’m up late, but must call my sister who lives across the country. Let us all comfort each other. Walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.
For those of Roman Catholic persuasion try out Heart of the Nation Catholic Mass on U Tube.
Sue and I never, ever miss this dynamic 30 minutes.
Positive, uplifting, guilt free.
Our church has not cancelled services for this weekend — but I plan to go to the early (7:30AM) Eucharist, which is usually a small group. It may be the last Eucharist for a while. I’ll miss singing with the choir, so much! Our rector is a bishop-elect, and his goodbye party is supposed to be next week. It saddens me that we probably won’t be able to gather in his honor, but I know there are many people with worse impacts from this illness. Found this video of Rev. Curry reading my favorite prayer from Evening Prayer, yesterday. I share it with you all, as my prayer for all of you this evening. Be well, and see you here at Lent Madness Monday, to learn about another pair of our dear saints, and debate who is most deserving of advancement toward that ever-coveted Golden Halo. https://www.facebook.com/episcopalian/videos/10159882459167925/
We are having online Morning Prayer this morning.
At least be in church thru the air waves.
Hard to go through by yourself.
If you wish to do some study while remaining at home, I have a couple of YouTube channels I recommend. The first is All Saints New Albany [Ohio], which has been posting sermons each week for about 5 years. Here is a link to my favorite one, “Bridegroom” — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMKXegyb-z4 — as an example. I also highly recommend the series from Summer 2015. Jason Prati is a dynamite speaker and great at connecting the Old Testament to the stories about Jesus in the New Testament. Any time he is the speaker it is worth listening, I believe.
Second is a channel posted by Ryan Reeves, a seminary professor who teaches the history of Christianity. If you have an interest in Patristics and how the faith was transmitted from the Apostles to us, you can learn a lot here. I think he’s of a more evangelical bent, rather than Episcopalian, but I’m not aware that that would make a difference to the study of church history. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRgREWf4NFWZEd86aVEpQ7B3YxXPhUEf-
God bless you for your thoughtful post!
Bless you all!
A member of our EfM group found this. The author gives permission to share it on her website http://www.krugthethinker.com
Prayer for a Pandemic
By Cameron Bellm
May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country,
let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.
Thank you for the Pandemic Prayer.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful prayer. It helps put everything in perspective in these stressful times.
You brought tears to my eyes when I least expected them. Thank you for your kindness and support. Stay healthy, wash your hands and keep up the good work that brings all of us such joy. God’s blessings !
We need a like button, so please consider all above comments liked. Here in London England it is 7:35 am GMT, We will have a service of the Word at Church, in the meantime we wait our government moving to containment and the cancellations that will bring.
I pray for you all and the world and the sanity of Lent Madness in this stressful time.
God Bless you all. xx
Thank you Tim and Scott. Thank you to all who have posted as well.
Thank you for your words of encouragement during these trying times.
Your Lenten Madness is a beacon of light and joy during our Lenten season and most certainly this year! Yes, especially enjoy the comments too…
Blessings in your interest of keeping our Saints alive as I enjoy doing in writing
Holy Icons.
Thank you to everyone, most especially to Tim and Scott, for being God’s angels to all of us in Lent Madness this year! What a wonderful world we live in, where “strangers” share love, concern, compassion through this particular Lenten Madness joy!! Our California daughter shared this wonderful link yesterday with us, and I’ve been sending it to all our parishioner friends at Transfiguration here in Dallas. At this moment in time, may we all feel God’s hands of love as we reach toward each other around the world. Blessings, comfort, and health to all the thousands of our new favorite internet neighbors!
https://jwa.org/podcasts/canwetalk/episode-36-relearning-wash-our-hands
Thank you for these words and thankful thst this forum will continue.God Bless you!C
Yes, thanks for being there – your reminders about the saints are refreshing and encouraging. I think that we are entering a time when we will gain a new appreciation for technology since so many physical activities that we have taken for granted are being postponed while we try to isolate ourselves more and stay safe.
Supreme Executive Committee is my new best friends during this time
THANK YOU
Dear Tim and Scott, thank you for joining us all together in love. Thank you for leading us to contemplate the saints of the past, present (including of course each other) and future. What a blessing to be surrounded by this amazing cloud of witnesses!
Praise God whose joy is love!
Thank you!
Thank you for bringing all of us so much joy, encouragement, and comfort . . . it is for such a time as this that this is most needed! We all forget, we all leak. Thank you for reminding us and teaching us more about God’s great love through broken people in difficult times. Very grateful.
Thank you so much for this letter. It’s funny that it came a day after I posted a blog on our website extolling the virtues of lent madness. I mentioned that although the term march sadness is now upon us, lent madness still can provide so much thought, introspection. Thank you for what you are doing during this very stressful. It just gives us the opportunity to more fully understand what the Saints went through. Peace to all of you
Thank you! I think this is a much needed resource at a difficult time. And I love the new Daily Office podcast! That is a great resource.
Ditto. I’m grateful for this virtual community, especially now when cut off from normal contact with my real one. God bless us all.
Thank you Frs. Scott and Tim. I agree with all you have said, and during @Saint Michael and All Angels live Fb feed of Morning Prayer this morning, posted http://www.lentmadness.com link in the comments; Fr. Matthew Cowden, made mention upon our conclusion. Staying connected virtually in this time of “social, public distancing” feeds our souls and delights our maker. God loves YOU.
Thank you Tim and Scott for your uplifting words. God bless you!
Thank you SEC for the encouraging words and the resources. I’m seeing this too late to tune in to Bishop Currie”s live stream. I’m hoping that I can find it recorded. This is a wonderful commuunity and I treasure you all.
Drove past my church and was so saddened to see the CLOSED sign on the doors. Then I came home and saw your weekend post and caught the U-tube service from the National Cathedral w/Bishop Curry and had my own private service w/literally thousands of others. Thank you for uplifting my spirits for the coming weeks of limited activity. For once I can’t wait for Monday as the Saints continue to dance.
On the way home from church today, where we only had a couple dozen people and had no wine with our communion, I was (and still am) feeling the beginning of a deep depression. I find that all the resources from the church are helping me and I hope that I can continue to be buoyed up by these resources. I am an introvert, but I find that the lack of contact is causing distress to me. No hugs during the passing of the peace, just waving a peace sign across the sanctuary, left me feeling hollow and empty. Prayers for those of us who feel the way I do will be most appreciated. I will work to avoid the depression by remembering that we must protect the vulnerable among us and that is why we are remaining islands rather than continents.
Thank you for your Lent Madness post. We have been suspended from services for the next two weeks. It made that hard for me as I attend church every Sunday unless ill or out of town. Our church was able to send us the Sunday Bulletin with the service printed in it. However are struggling sending the Sermon online as this is the first time attempted. Our Lenten Study is using the Tim Schenck book “Dust Bunnies in the Basket”, and I am thoroughly enjoying it!
Thank you. This ministry of Lent Madness brings so many of us together to learn and laugh, but mostly to love. You, and we, are living out Christ’s new commandment of loving one another as He loves us. Best, Ellen+, Deacon (Retired) Diocese of California.
Thank you for Lenten Madness. It provides both some fun and education. And the fun is particularly apropos for me in this time of hysteria.
Thank you for the kind and supportive words. It is truly appreciated.
Hi– I love Lent Madness and have been a fan from the beginning. Being Irish I was sad when St. Bridget came in second. I especially want to thank you for the post yesterday telling us about getting Morning Prayer and other services. I watched the service at the National Cathedral today with Bishop Curry and it really blessed me and reminded me that Jesus Loves Me, this I know ’cause the Bible Told Me So!! Blessings and love Rosemary
Lent Madness has been such a welcome distraction from the craziness we’re facing. Thank you!
Thank you for your thoughtful, and prayerful, Post – and special thanks to the Community, who
daily share their faith with warmth and grace and humor. It all means the world in tough times
like these. MBB
Thank you so much for your words this morning.They are very comforting and make me feel so connected with others on this site,especially with all the chaos right now.Prayers for all as we travel through these days of uncertainty. Live Strong!
Thank you both for the continuity in this time of stress and confusion. You are a blessing to many not only spiritually, but comforting with your humor.
I am sorry that I didn’t see this Saturday but I am glad I did today. Thank you for always being here, this is a constant that I cherish.
Really liked the picture of the He & She Saints at the top of the email. I would appreciate additional inf. about it, please & thank you. Also am thankful for the information about services, etc. during this crisis. Our former priest introduced us to Lent Madness 3 years ago & its an inspirational event we treasure now each Lent.