“Where are the bells?”

“Where are the bells?”

Have you noticed the lack of bells this Lent? We no longer ring a bell to begin the service, and there are silent pauses in place of the bells during the Eucharistic prayer. (We typically ring the bells when saying or singing “holy, holy, holy,” as well as after the words spoken over the Bread and the Wine, and at the conclusion of the Prayer of Consecration.) We omit the bells to enhance the reverence, reflection, and penitential nature of this holy season. We’ll bring them back with a joyous cacophony on Easter Sunday in celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus!

Here are a few other Lenten changes that contribute to the uniqueness of Lent:

• Just as we cease ringing bells, we also refrain from saying “Alleluia.” In fact, at the Pancake Supper on Shrove Tuesday we “buried” the Alleluia—children and adults alike created Alleluia posters, and then we laid them to rest in a small coffin, covered them with a black shroud, and hid the box for the remainder of Lent.

• Similarly, we don’t proclaim or sing “the Gloria” that usually comes near the beginning of the service, and we choose hymns and songs that are less joyous and more contemplative and penitential.

• In place of the beautiful, ornate cloth we call the “frontal,” our Holy Table is adorned with simple white linen. The candlesticks and missal stand are wooden, and the paten (the plate holding the bread) and chalices are simple pottery, replacing the bright brass we normally use.

• Our slides, banners, vestments, veil and burse (the cloth covering the paten and chalice) are purple – the traditional color of repentance, suffering, and royalty, based in part on the purple robe mockingly placed on Jesus after his flogging, before his crucifixion.

All of these subtle choices are intended each Sunday to remind us of this Lenten journey we share, walking with Jesus into the arms of the Father. I encourage you to pay attention to them, along with the Scriptures and prayers, music and silence that are woven into the service. Each one can support you in “the observance of a holy Lent,” along with the spiritual disciplines you’re practicing during the week.

Your Pastor in Christ,