In a very close race, David Oakerhater has just defeated Martin of Porres in the first round of Lent Madness. Oakerhater will go on to face the winner of Thomas vs. Enmegahbowh in the second round.

There is no more voting today. The polls open at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday with Ephrem of Edessa facing Thomas Cranmer.

Yesterday, Ashes to Go was all the rage. But today that's all dust. Instead, the world has moved on. New life. Time for a new Lenten mission to take to the streets. So naturally, today we inaugurated the first-ever Brackets to Go in Cincinnati.

Yours truly bravely donned cassock, surplice, and tippet (without all that seal foppery) and headed out of doors. I avoided wearing my beloved Canterbury Cap, because I didn't want to be construed as endorsing Lancelot Andrewes in today's matchup.

It was a profoundly sacred experience as people said, "Thank you! I am so grateful I didn't have to turn on my printer in order to get a bracket" and "Finally, I'll know who is the victor of Tarsus, Paul or Theodore." Still others were heard to say, "Hey, some of these clowns are only in Holy Women, Holy Men!" Perhaps the most amazing comment came from a teary-eyed recipient, "I cannot wait for saintly kitsch, especially if Evelyn Underhill is still in the running."

Yes, friends, it was gratifying to take Lent Madness to the streets -- to get outside the computer screen and iPhone. Just can't figure out why there were no television networks there to film my holy work.

By now you have surely discovered the Lent Madness Channel with our weekly webcasts of Monday Madness. Well, friends, there is good news. The book that goes behind the movie is now available. It's only $6.99 for Kindle or Nook (ebook only!). Calendar of Saints: Lent Madness 2012 Edition is the ultimate guidebook for Lent Madness and devotional handbook for the saints of the Episcopal Church.

Back in 1972 (before Holy Women, Holy Men was a glimmer in anyone's eye), Canon David Veal wrote a book for Forward Movement called Saints Galore! It was popular. So popular that it was reprinted and updated a bunch of times, most recently in 2004. Canon Veal write brief devotional essays about each saint in the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church. These essays were intended to convey something of God's grace at work in the saints and to inspire us with the idea that God might work in our lives too.

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As many of you will know, today is Mardi Gras. Or as we Anglicans like to call it, Shrove Tuesday. What some will not know is that the word "shrove" is an old English word that means "bracket." Yes, friends, today is the day you should be finishing up your Lent Madness brackets. Gather some friends and place bets (for charity). Remember there is no charge for voting here on Lent Madness, and that voting starts on Ash Thursday morning, February 23.

To get you in the mood, here is an inspirational video.

Also, check out today's Episcopal News Service story on Lent Madness. Make sure you tell all your friends, and some random strangers, about our Facebook page and video channel.

Have fun eating pancakes today. Then do not have fun getting ashes tomorrow, but do go to church and begin the more important (and less zany) part of Lent. And then you can have a bit of fun again on Thursday when the voting begins!

Another week, another Monday. Tim and Scott explain the workings of Lent Madness. They also cover the growing global phenomenon of Lent Madness Fever.

Monday Madness -- February 20, 2012 from Forward Movement on Vimeo.

This week, Tim and Scott look at the lineup of celebrity bloggers. And more. Much, much more.

Monday Madness -- February 13, 2012 from Forward Movement on Vimeo.

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.

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.

Tim and Scott will be offering regular sessions of Monday Madness, in which they discuss various aspects of Lent Madness. Think of it as color commentary. Once the contest starts, they'll review the winners & losers, as well as preview upcoming match-ups.

Today's conversation covers the bracket -- how do saints make it onto the bracket of 32 holy people? What happened in previous years? And what's coming next week? Tune in for all that, and more.

Monday Madness -- January 30, 2012 from Forward Movement on Vimeo.

We want to hear from you! Watch the video to find out how you can submit your questions to Tim and Scott.

All of the internet is talking about Lent Madness. Or so it seems. Check out the Episcopal Cafe, The Infusion, Laughing Water, Way will come clear, and of course Seven whole days. We made the Episcopal News Service blog, and now we're helping the Anglican Communion lighten up! Even the ordinarily straight-laced Textweek is listing Lent Madness as a Lent resource! And don't forget our shiny new Facebook page. You should go like us right now!

Tell your neighbors and friends to catch the Lent Madness wave. If you have a blog or a website, why not add a widget to send people to Lent Madness? Show them orthodoxy can be fun! Or that fun can be orthodox.

Next week, look for more action-packed  pre-Lent pre-Madness fantasticness.

(Geeky stuff to make Technorati happy: MW827V6YXGK9. Never mind.)