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Bethel Lutheran Church celebrates Shrove Tuesday
Bethel Lutheran Church celebrates Mardi Gras
By LINDA M. LINONIS
BOARDMAn
In French, it’s “laissez les bons temps rouler” and in English, it’s “let the good times roll.”
That’s the theme of Mardi Gras, which is French for Fat Tuesday. The name is derived from the tradition of feasting on the last day of carnival season. That’s before the fasting often associated with Lent, which begins today, Ash Wednesday.
Bethel Lutheran Church, 425 Crestview Drive, observed Shrove Tuesday in its fellowship hall with feasting on pancakes and New Orleans-inspired foods and wearing of beads and masks.
The event is old home week for Pastor Richard Kidd and his wife, Shelia, who are from Shreveport, La.
“We wanted to share part of our heritage and give Shrove Tuesday a Mardi Gras flair,” Pastor Kidd said. “It was part of our tradition growing up.” He came to Bethel in August 2013, and this is Bethel’s third annual Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday event.
Shelia Kidd, drawing on background information, said masks were worn to remove class designations and let everyone mingle. Beads have meanings in their colors – purple for justice, gold for power and green for faith.
About 100 people came through the doors to partake in the festive fare. Tables were set with Mardi Gras placements that offered a mealtime prayer and descriptions of Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday and carnival and beads and doubloons.
Those attending could be creative with an array of toppings for pancakes such as strawberries, blueberries and apples along with maple syrup and whipped cream.
To bring a taste of New Orleans to the table, Johnny Opritza, who caters as “Johnny O,” prepared jambalaya, a rice and sausage dish; boudin, a Cajun sausage; and beignet, a French term for a deep-fried pastry dusted with powdered sugar. Opritza said New Orleans foods are Creole, a blend of French and African culinary influences. Slow cooking often is a trademark.
Pastor Kidd said Shrove Tuesday is the celebration before the more solemn time of Lent. “It’s not really about giving up something but doing something because of what God has done for us,” he said. The pastor continued that for Bethel members, that is following the directive in the church motto, “Making Jesus Known.”
“What we do, we do out of gratitude for what Christ did on the cross,” he said.
Beth Applegate, Christian-education coordinator, said a free-will offering is accepted. The Shrove Tuesday event and the annual car show that is set for July 31 this year are fundraisers for the youth group. A portion of Shrove Tuesday funds go to an outreach project that is selected and for mission trips.
Joan Johnson, who attends Bethel, came for the first time, hearing about the event at a senior lunch. She wore a sequined vest that fit into the festive air of the occasion and a necklace of beads detailed with masks that her daughter had sent her from Louisiana.
Janie and Dale Morckel, longtime members, and their extended family were at the event. “We’ve come before. It’s only gotten better,” Janie Morckel said. “It’s about the food,” her husband added.
Pastor Kidd said Ash Wednesday services are at noon and 7 p.m. During Lent, services are planned at noon and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Bethel is participating in Mahoning County Lutheran Cluster of Churches Lenten programs on the theme, “Continuing in the Covenant of Baptism.”