Across Concordia, Shrove Tuesday (aka Pancake Tuesday) was celebrated in traditional style with the making and eating of pancakes!

Since the Middle Ages, Christians have given up rich foods like eggs, butter and milk during the season of Lent (which starts on Ash Wednesday). To avoid waste, households would mix these ingredients with flour to make pancakes. This tradition became so popular that most Christian countries still celebrate Shrove Tuesday with pancakes today. In France this is known as Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). In England, they have pancake races, where people run while flipping pancakes in a frying pan (there’s an idea for next year)!

On all three campuses, pancakes were cooked and served to students and staff alike, to remember that this is a special day on the Christian calendar. The word "Shrove" comes from the old English word "shrive," meaning to confess sins and seek forgiveness. So, whether we eat pancakes or not, Shrove Tuesday invites us to reflect, repent and prepare for the journey to the joy of Easter.

In addition, students were encouraged to donate a gold coin to support the work of Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS). ALWS feeds and supports many people in need, especially in war-torn places like East Africa and Ukraine.

I am thankful to our student leaders, staff and parents on all three campuses who in some way helped to prepare and serve these delicious treats. Happy Shrove Tuesday and many blessings for the Lenten season.

Mark Rathjen
College Chaplain