From Going Big to Giving Up: Preparing for Lent at, yes, your Super Bowl party.

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From Going Big to Giving Up

Feb 1 2013

Preparing for Lent at, yes, your Super Bowl party.

Anna Broadway

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Growing up, I had limited understanding of the church holidays: to me it was mainly two brief celebrations at Christmas and Easter. But as my church has pulled me toward observing the Advent and Lenten seasons, those stretches of longing and lament have taken me back to parts of life I've rather avoid.It isn't necessarily easy or fun, but these rhythms slowly beat against the walls I erect to compartmentalize my life, walls that not only divide me from myself, but keep God and others out.

As peculiar as it might sound, I hope that praying during the Super Bowl will help me keep leaning toward Lent, wholeness, God, even amid an exciting sports event. Maybe it could help you do the same.

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Michelle van loon

February 02, 2013 10:00am

My experience of watching the Super Bowl, which has more to do with eating carb-laden snack food, commenting on 4 million dollar commercials minutes and cringing my way through bloated half time entertainment, has never been an invitation to prayer for me before. Your Pray For The Johns initiative will change that for me tomorrow.

Tim Fall

February 01, 2013 2:43pm

Anna, nice job going through Crouch's five questions. One thing I do is try to remember that the talent of those athletes is given them by God. Same thing when watching shows like So You Think You Can Dance, or attending a concert or going to the theatre. I can't say I always have that thought in mind, but I return to it along the way. Cheers, Tim (timfall.wordpress.com)

Jennifer roach

February 01, 2013 2:43pm

I too am concerned about the increased human trafficking at events like these. Great idea to pray during the natural breaks in the game. But I have to disagree with one aspect of this article. As an Anglican, I have also come to love the church seasons...but I think its important to keep the seasons in the seasons. The Super Bowl is 10 whole days before Lent. Its not in Lent. To act like it is takes away from observing the season of Ordinary Time where is actually is located. Plus, it happens on a Sunday, and Sundays are never fasting days, even in Lent. If you give up sugar for Lent, for example, you can still have it on Sundays because every Sunday is a "mini Easter."