Super Tuesday meets Lent Madness

March 1, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

I Voted Lent MadnessAfter what has felt like an interminable lead-up, it’s finally Super Tuesday. People in 13 states across America will be voting in presidential primaries today. To which the Supreme Executive Committee says, “Whatever. The Lent Madness faithful has been voting every day since Ash Thursday.”

What you won’t find in Lent Madness are any hanging chads (Though Chad of Lichfield has appeared in the Saintly Smackdown). Nonetheless, this is a day to celebrate the democratic process so we are sharing some Lent Madness-style slogans to serve as inspiration for those heading to the polls.

10. Feel the Burn(-ished Golden Halo)

9. It’s Morning in America — which means it’s time to vote in Lent Madness

8. Putting Halos Fist

7. I’m with Hilary (of Poitiers)

6. All the Way With MLK

5. Halos We Can Believe In

4. John! (the Baptist)

3. It Takes a Village (to Make a Saint)

2. I Like Mike (the Archangel)

1. Make Heaven Great Again

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Posted in Color Commentary, Lent Madness 2016 | 10 Comments

Monday Madness — Super Tuesday Delayed Edition

March 1, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Due to a glitch at Lent Madness HQ, we didn’t get yesterday’s episode of Monday Madness uploaded in time. We know you were crushed. But then, when it comes to Lent Madness, you get what you (don’t) pay for.

In order to console you for that extra wait, Tim and Scott hereby offer you an extra-special and exceedingly rare Tuesday edition of Monday Madness. Watch now for the inside scoop on the Lent Madness take on Super Tuesday, tips about how you can win your very own St. Francis of Assisi, and a sneak preview of soon-to-be-released Pocket Lent bonus trading cards.

Will Scott read Tim’s fortune using Pocket Lent cards like some sort of penitential fortuneteller? Or will Tim pull off a Pocket Lent card trade with Scott for three former Golden Halo winners and a saint to be named later? Watch the video, and all will be revealed!

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Posted in Lent Madness 2016, Monday Madness | 15 Comments

Frances Joseph-Gaudet vs. John Mason Neale

March 1, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

In the penultimate (we love that word here at Lent Madness) matchup of the first round, it’s Frances Joseph-Gaudet facing off against John Mason Neale. Six names, two saints, only one will emerge victorious and advance to the next round.

Yesterday Vida Dutton Scudder skated to an easy win over F.D. Maurice, 72% to 28%. She’ll face Clare of Assisi in the Saintly Sixteen.

Stay tuned for a special “Tuesday Edition” of Monday Madness in which Tim and Scott wax eloquent(ish) on a variety of Lent Madness topics. It will be epic, as usual.

And finally, if you live in a Super Tuesday state, make your first and most important vote right here at Lent Madness, before heading out to those other polls.

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2016 | 218 Comments

Vida Dutton Scudder vs. F.D. Maurice

February 29, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Congratulations on surviving another looooooooong weekend without Lent Madness voting to anchor your day, ground your faith, and generally infuse your soul with the will to live. The only lifeline we tossed out was a chance to win your very own life-sized cardboard cutout of 2015 Golden Halo winner Francis of Assisi. Learn how here.

Today’s pairing involves two saintly souls whose lives overlapped for a period during the mid-19th century. Vida Dutton Scudder, an American laywoman and proponent of the social gospel tangles with F.D. Maurice, a British cleric and defender of Christian socialism. Both were writers and advocates for the poor and downtrodden.

On Friday, we capped off a week of blowouts with Dietrich Bonhoeffer triumphing over Athanasius 77% to 23% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen. Actually, it wasn’t an entire week of lopsided results, as last Monday saw the closest battle of Lent Madness 2016 with Columba eking out a victory over Kateri Tekakwitha.

But enough of the recent past. A full week of voting is nigh upon us which will include our first foray into the Saintly Sixteen on Thursday as Helena takes on Constance. Time to vote!

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2016 | 157 Comments

Post a Mug Shot, Win a Saint!

February 27, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Francis at GCHow would you like to own a real, live (well, cardboard) saint? The Supreme Executive Committee is holding a contest to give away 2015 Golden Halo winner Francis of Assisi. Think about it. How awesome would your life be if Saint Francis joined you at the breakfast table every morning? Or appeared in next year’s Christmas card? Or participated in the annual Bring Your Saint to Work Day?

This is the same cardboard cutout that graced the Forward Movement booth at the Episcopal Church’s General Convention last summer in Salt Lake City. The same cardboard cutout that people formed lines in front of to take selfies with. And you could own him! And take selfies with Francis every single day! With no pesky lines!

How, exactly can you enter this once-in-a-lifetime contest? It’s easy, really. And the odds of winning Lent Madness mugsare MUCH better than Powerball. Simply take a picture with your Lent Madness mug and post it to social media. Double hashtag it #LentMadness #MugShot to insure we see it on our Twitter or Facebook page.

If this is too confusing and you have no idea what a hashtag is, please do NOT contact the SEC for tech support. We’re busy. It’s Lent. And we run the world’s most popular online Lenten devotion. So you can either ask the nearest teenager for advice or simply e-mail your photo to press@lentmadness.org.

Don’t have a Lent Madness mug? That’s an easy fix. There are a variety of them available in the Lentorium. (Note: Though technically not a mug, the SEC has graciously granted dispensation to use a Brigid of Kildare pint glass).

KJS with mugThe deadline to submit entries is March 14. At which point the SEC will make a decision and award Francis to the winner. What is the criteria? Well, the whim of the SEC. But we’re looking for the most creative mug shot, however you may define it. And if you can get a mug shot with an actual celebrity, that would be especially impressive.

So go take your mug shot today and who knows? St. Francis of Assisi may just show up in your mail box (some assembly required, live animals sold separately).

Posted in Color Commentary, Lent Madness 2016 | 2 Comments

Dietrich Bonhoeffer vs. Athanasius

February 26, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

In the last battle of a madcap week of Lent Madness, it’s two spiritual giants facing off in the first round. Not fair to pit Dietrich Bonhoeffer against Athanasius so early in the Madness? Perhaps. But remember…life, like Lent Madness, is not fair.

Yesterday, Albert Schweitzer soundly defeated Lawrence 60% to 40% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen against Methodius.

As we will soon enter another 48 hours without voting, please remember these 10 tips to surviving Lent Madness Withdrawal. We know it’s not easy and that LMW is real. But it all returns on Monday morning as Vida Dutton Scudder takes on F.D. Maurice. The first round concludes next Wednesday then it’s on to the Saintly Sixteen starting Thursday. Hang on to your Lenten-themed-purple-bramble-infused hats!

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2016 | 207 Comments

Lawrence vs. Albert Schweitzer

February 25, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

As the drive toward the Golden Halo continues, we meet a martyred 3rd century deacon and an early 20th century renaissance man, humanitarian, and Nobel Prize winner. Lawrence lived out his faith in Rome, giving all that he had to the poor while Albert Schweitzer gave much of his energy and talents to building hospitals to care for the sick.

Yesterday, in the second lopsided contest in as many days, Sojourner Truth set Soren Kierkegaard free 77% to 23%. She’ll face the winner of Frances Joseph-Gaudet vs. John Mason Neale in the Saintly Sixteen.

And remember, if anyone “grills” you about Lent Madness today, just tell them it’s the world’s greatest online Lenten devotion!

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2016 | 209 Comments

Sojourner Truth vs. Søren Kierkegaard

February 24, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Today we meet two 19th century contemporaries who lived in very different worlds — the United States and Denmark, to be literal about it. Sojourner Truth — slave, abolitionist, radical vs. Søren Kierkegaard — philosopher, theologian, writer. Two complex, passionate individuals who influenced and inspired many throughout their lives and beyond.

Yesterday Clare of Assisi easily advanced past Denis 74% to 26% to secure a place in the Saintly Sixteen against the winner of Vita Scudder and F.D. Maurice. Despite all the head jokes and puns in the comment section throughout this contest, you will note that the SEC has shown great restraint in not using one to describe this battle. This is because we like to stay well ahead of the humor curve.

So in the meantime, have a tete a tete with your friends and neighbors as you consider Sojourner or Søren.

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2016 | 206 Comments

Clare vs. Denis

February 23, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Let’s just state right off the bat that there is no room for nepotism in Lent Madness. Saints related to members of the Supreme Executive Committee are ineligible to compete for the Golden Halo.

Therefore, just because Francis of Assisi won the coveted Golden Halo last year, there was no funny business going on that led to Clare of Assisi’s inclusion this year. The SEC was not coerced by the Assisi mafia. In fact, Clare only made it into the bracket by winning a play-in round against  Chad of Lichfield held during the Episcopal Church’s General Convention last summer.

Anyway, today Clare faces off against Denis. Please don’t lose your head over this battle.

Yesterday, in a VERY tight contest, Columba eked out a victory over Kateri Tekakwitha 51% to 49% in the closest battle to date in Lent Madness 2016. Columba will face Meister Eckhart in the Saintly Sixteen. Sadly, we also saw our first case of voter fraud. At 11:02 pm EST, two addresses, in Vermillion, SD and Medford, OR were blocked. 125 votes for Kateri Tekakwitha were recorded from these two locations, and we do not know of groups participating in Lent Madness in those cities. Not enough votes were cast to affect the outcome, but we have blocked the addresses to prevent further votes. Remember, vote only once per person or be cast into the outer darkness of Lent Madness! Also, Jesus does not approve of cheating.

And finally, if you missed yesterday’s edition of Monday Madness, Tim and Scott share suggestions on how to be a Lent Madness evangelist in your congregation. Using a Lent Madness mug in place of a chalice may or may not be one of their tips.

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Posted in First Round, Lent Madness 2016 | 258 Comments

Monday Madness — February 22, 2016

February 22, 2016 | Author: Supreme Executive Committee

Lent Madness mugsGather the kids and neighbors around the computer and watch this week’s fun-filled episode of Monday Madness. This week, Tim and Scott give some advice on how you can be a better Lent Madness evangelist in your local church. They also remind you to post photos of yourself with your Lent Madness mug or pint glass with double hashtag #LentMadness #MugShot to have a chance to win the actual St. Francis cutout figure used for many a celebrity photo at last summer’s General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

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Posted in Lent Madness 2016, Monday Madness | 13 Comments