Sisters church celebrates Shrove Tuesday with pancake feast

A centuries-old tradition took place at Sisters Episcopal Church of the Trnasfiguration on Tuesday, February 20. An all-you-could-eat pancake supper was the last indulgence before the faithful began the season of Lent.

The event is known as Shrove Tuesday in English speaking countries, but in the multicultural melting pot of America, it is also known by many other names including Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday and Carnival, depending upon the ethnic bent of the celebrant. Regardless of the name, the tradition is much the same throughout most of the Christian world.

The Women's Guild from the Church of the Transfiguration has added a new twist to the ancient custom, by making the traditional English meal a fund-raiser for their projects. All the cooks donated their time, and all the proceeds will be used for different projects; sometimes the funds are used for community outreach.

The event might be remembered by some from their school readings of English Classic literature.

"In Shakespeare's 'As You Like It,' there is a reference during an interchange between the clown and the countess where the clown claims to have an answer to fit every situation. The countess asks 'every situation?' And the clown answers with several things including 'as fit as a pancake for Shrove Tuesday,'" said Father Ted Rodrigues, the church's rector.

"This is a great event. Not only is it fun, but it is the best value tonight in Sisters. Where else can you have a meal like this for only four dollars?" Father Rodrigues said.

A whole family could eat for $10. The crowd seemed to agree, as there was little conversation by those who were eating, and the line was long and steady with plates being refilled for seconds. There's no doubt pancakes were being consumed in double digit numbers.

Shrove Tuesday is the last day of Shrovetide and the day preceding Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. The word shrove is the past tense of the English verb to shrive, which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by confessing and doing penance. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving that was expected of Anglo-Saxon Christians immediately before Lent.

The reason that pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent is that the 40 days of Lent form a period of liturgical fasting, during which tradition dictates that only the plainest foodstuffs may be eaten. Therefore, rich ingredients such as eggs, milk, sugar and flour are disposed of immediately prior to the commencement of the fast. Preparing pancakes and something similar to doughnuts were historically a very efficient way of using up these perishable goods, in addition to providing a celebratory feast prior to the 40-day fast.

For some of those in attendance at last week's pancake supper, Shrove Tuesday was old hat; for others it was their first time. "I think we have been here for every Shrove Tuesday since we moved here. The event is a little new for us as we didn't go to an Episcopal church before we came to Sisters, and I think this is pretty much just done with Episcopal churches," said Mary Hargreaves.

Although sponsored by the Episcopal Church the event was open to all, and there was a sprinkling of people from a broad spectrum of Sisters, Black Butte Ranch and surrounding areas. Some were taking advantage of the meal that Father Rodrigues believed was the best value in Sisters. Others were just trolling though to see what it was all about, and, of course, there were the stalwarts who were making everything happen.

"I am having a great time," said John Anderson as he was preparing his 60th pancake.

The sentiment was universal.