Try Matthew 19: 21; Luke 18: 22; Mark 10: 21… or not.

I always have a question around these sort of things Somegal. Are these just things to make us feel better? It is innovative but what does it do for us as Christian people.

I think that the idea behind fasting is to "empty yourself" to become aware of what you are usually "full" with to create space for something new and deeper. It can be a challenge- but that challenge would have to be very individualized. One day without does not really sound like a challenge, unless you are addicted to something and go on withdrawal without it. You also don't get to experience the depth of going without something and how you are creating something new.
Example- if you fast on food, you suddenly have a lot more time that you spend preparing, eating and cleaning up. I think the old monks used to spend that extra time in prayer and reflection.
For my muslim neighbours, it seems that the social aspect of being in this together and then socializing at night is the highlight of ramadan.
So what i want to say, is that the challenge needs to be individualized and started with personal reflection on what is in our life that needs attention, in the middle of it a reflection on what do we fill the void with, and at the end a reflection possibly in a group on what has changed or what are the consequences.
I am not sure how a fundraiser fits into that- I would caution not to make it into a fundraising competition.

Buy nothing new-other than food-I did it for all of lent once-not only did my wallet appreciate it I also realized I was shopping recreationally-and I had more time when I  gave it up

Crazyheart, they make us realize what we do, have, and can encourage behaviour.

Consider:

100mile diet meal

Play a board game

Pinga - you and I must be on the same wave length, because I was thinking of those ideas too!

Tabitha - that's a really good one too. What did you do with that extra money?

Mrs.Anteater - it will definitely not be a fundraising competition. The woman who presented this idea suggested it could be as low as 5 cents per item.

Crazyheart - to me it wouldn't be about making me feel better. It would be about making the community a slightly better place.

Mike - that is often easier said than done, isn't it?

I wonder if it might be more effective if it was cumulative - each day you give something up, and don't reintroduce it until after lent.  (ie - giving up the car for one day - I'd pick Tuesday - I seldom have anything for Tuesday except the grocery store - I could easily reschedule for Monday or Wednesday.  But giving up the car for Tuesday and not using it again for the rest of Lent - I would have to walk more, figure out bus schedules, arrange for rides with someone else (and do something else in return)).  Give up TV for one day.  I could easily do that on Thursday when we go square-dancing.  I could record Jeoprady to watch later.  But if I had to give it up for days or weeks I would have to find something else to do with my evenings.)     By subtracting one item or activity a day, by the end of forty days the person would be living a fairly basic lifestyle.  And perhaps have introduced other wholesome activities to take their place - reading, walking, face-to-face with friends and neighbours (since you've probably given up the telephone and computer).   At the end of Lent you might find that you no longer want some of these things in your life.  You almost certainly will have saved some money - how will you use it?  You may be healthier or happier. 

Visit a shut-in.

Volunteer at a foodbank or soup kitchen (if possible).

Send a card to someone.

Phone someone you haven't talked to in a long time.

Write a thank you note to someone who serves in your community - such as mayor, councillor, RCMP, ambulance attendants, etc. etc.

There is a web site you can sign up to that has this same idea. It us called 40 acts I think. They send you an email each day on what to do

I would consider adding to each day a particular chapter to read. A passage is too simple and a book us too long but a chapter is a good length. Vary them or go through one entire book, say Mark

.

What I did for lent last year instead of giving up the usual things like chocolate and coffee and stuff like that I decided to make something I spent time on it for the forty days and at the end I had a prayer shawl for our church it wasn't fancy but it was made with love and caring.  I plan on doing the samething this year,

That sounds like a good idea northstar.  A commitment to something meditative that produced something with the power to bring comfort to someone.  Everyone I know who has received a  prayer shawl treasures it as a sign that they are indeed 'not alone'.

I like that idea northstar! I've also stopped giving up stuff for Lent and started adding an activity. Last year I added daily walks.

I also like the idea of the prayer shawl, northstar.

I have been offering a holiness calendar for Lent: invitations to intentionally give time and effort to our relationships.  I invite people to consider relationhips with God, others, the world and self and choose an activity to nurture those relationships each day.  I will try to paste my list into a blog.

sounds good, Jim

Unable to paste today from my Word documents -- not sure why.

The calendar part left spaces for individuals to write in letter codes:  here are the codes:

Gifts to God

P = Prayer:  Take time for 15 minutes of prayer

B = Bible:  spend 15 minutes reading the Bible

F = Faith: Spend at least 15  minutes either reading  a faith related book, engaging in a faith discussion, or attending  a faith event

Gifts to Others

L = Lenten:  Lenten offering -- a special financial offering for the church or other charitale organization, above regular giving

V = Volunteer: Volunteer for church or other charitable cause

C = Coffee:  invite someone over or visit them or meet them somewhere for a visit over a beverage of choice (includes beer or wine for those so inclined); maybe include a meal

GIfts to Self

D = Diet:  Our boies are temples; one way of inceasing their holiness is to feed them well -- including drinking more water; more fruits and vegetables, etc.--any change for a better diet counts here

E = Exercise:  Our minds and bodies are temples: regular exercise honours God's gift of our bodies -- at least 15 minutes exercise

T = Treat:  Our spirits and emotional well-being can be lifted by treats such as a massage or spa, a good movie or play or music event -- any time we take to give ourselves a special treat for our inner well-being counts here

A hope is that there will be a fairly balanced representation of the letters from the three groups of gifts by the end of Lent.