If you're not familiar with the The Episcopal Church Foundation's  Vital Practices site, you should be. Today they posted an article about Lent Madness written by our own Scott Gunn. Scott's feeling very proud of himself for writing about Lent Madness and not giving me (Tim) a single mention. Besides the fact that he's now dead to me, it was an excellent piece about Forward Movement's motivation for getting involved with Lent Madness.

Has Forward Movement Gone Mad for Lent Madness?

By the Rev. Scott Gunn

For decades, Forward Movement has been most widely known for its flagship publication, Forward Day by Day. Hundreds of thousands of readers around the world find inspiration in the quarterly printed booklet. In the US, many Episcopalians learned about Forward Movement in their narthex. Lots of pamphlets sit in racks, waiting to be read.

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Pyramids are an important part of the salvation story of Scripture. After all, if it wasn't for the cruel treatment at the hand of the Egyptian slave drivers forcing them to build pyramids for the pharaoh, the Israelites might never have risen up to cross the Red Sea. You could argue that Pharaoh's enslavement of Moses' people was the original "pyramid scheme."

As we await the start of Lent Madness with building anticipation, we're aware of at least one parish that is structuring their participation as a Bernie Madoff-like pyramid scheme. The Rev. Chris Arnold, Priest-in-Charge at St. Mary's in Middlesboro, Kentucky, is hoping the entire congregation plays along this Lent.

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In this week's installment of Monday Madness, Tim and Scott discuss some of the key matchups in this year's bracket. Also, Scott drinks his coffee out of an awesome mug.

Monday Madness -- February 6, 2012 from Forward Movement on Vimeo.

We’re pleased to see that we’re on our way to 500 “likes” on the Lent Madness Facebook fan page. But we need your help to reach our goal of 1,000 likes before the madness begins on February 23rd (“Ash Thursday”).

Here are some helpful status updates for Facebook you can use to help spread the Lent Madness gospel. Simply cut and paste and be sure to include a link to the page: www.facebook.com/lentmadness.

If you “love” God, the least you can do is “like” Lent Madness.

Jesus loves me this I know. But he loves me more knowing that I “liked” Lent Madness.

“Like” Lent Madness and you will become richer than Joel Osteen.

All saints “like” Lent Madness and I mean to be one too.

And verily Jesus said unto them, I “like” Lent Madness. Go and do “likewise.”

If you enjoy fasting, self-flagellation, and hair shirts you’re really going to “like” Lent Madness.

What’s not to “like” about saints re-martyring one another in Lent Madness?

If you’re evangelizing your Twitter followers, be sure to include the hashtag #LentMadness. Here’s an example:

Me? Give up chocolate for Lent? That’s #LentMadness!

Thank you friends. We’re well on our way to making this year’s Lent Madness bigger than the Beatles.

Peace,

Tim and Scott

This just in from The Grapevine of the Diocese of Southeast Florida.

Are you working on your bracket? We hear of one college Canterbury House where they're organizing a betting pool (for charity, we hope). Start a pool in your parish, youth group, or office! And make sure you give all the money to a worthy cause, such as Episcopal Relief & Development. That way, Lent Madness will be fun AND good for the world.

Followers of Lent Madness will be relieved to know that, with the assistance of round-the-clock mediation, Tim and Scott have pledged to bury the hatchet for the duration of Lent. Upon reflection, they concluded that to remain each other's archnemesis would be counterproductive to the spirit of Lent Madness (despite the presence of competition and martyrdom). Plus, it made the meetings of the Supreme Executive Committee of the Province of the Society of Lent Madness too laden with drama.

The statement below has been jointly released on their respective blogs "Clergy Family Confidential" (Tim) and "Seven whole days" (Scott). We trust this will come as good news to all involved. In fact, you can show your support by "Liking" Lent Madness on our Facebook page.

"Be it known to all present, either bodily or online, that as of Ash Wednesday in the two thousand and twelfth year of our Lord, certain persons, of necessity in the present time, are hereby setting aside a designation of Archnemesis, and laying aside the enmity that has existed from the beginning, until the end of the Lenten Fast. Whereas, to cooperate on Lent Madness for the edification of all Christendom, Father Schenck and Father Gunn shall thereby set aside their feud until the New Fire is lit at the Great Vigil of Easter. After that, anything is possible."