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- For their Lint for Lent celebration, members of St. John Lutheran Church in Victor, N.Y., collect flammable items, such as dryer lint, used dryer sheets, old crayons and candle stubs, which are lit for the Easter sunrise service. Their most worthless stuff becomes the warmth and light of the resurrection fire. Photos by Emma Deibler.
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- A nonstick pot is used to melt crayons and candle stubs. The mixture is then poured on top of the lint in the egg cartons to form a fire-starting brick.
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- “This Lent, once again, give up your most worthless stuff so that God can turn it into heat and light,” said Johnathan Deibler, pastor of St. John.
This year, St. John Lutheran Church in Victor, N.Y., is preparing for its 10th Lint for Lent celebration, which aims to show what good can come from giving up “worthless” items we throw away on a daily basis. The celebration follows the tradition of Lent, a time when Jesus was tempted by the devil during a 40-day period of prayer and fasting.
Lint for Lent encourages members to give up certain flammable items, such as dryer lint, used dryer sheets, old crayons and candle stubs. These materials are then stored until Easter when the collection is set ablaze.
“This Lent, once again, give up your most worthless stuff so that God can turn it into heat and light,” said Johnathan Deibler, pastor of St. John.
Deibler said this bizarre tradition has been in practice since 2015 and has become an eye-opening addition to Easter worship services. It’s hard to imagine what good can come from these items alone, but each year, the congregation brings together enough of these items to stay warm and toasty.
“Since the candle wax and lint are so flammable, the fire is bright but brief, burning entirely within a few minutes,” Deibler said.
Lint for Lent aims to show what good can come from giving up “worthless” items we throw away on a daily basis.
Initially, members were only inclined to collect these items during the Lenten season, but most have now committed to bringing in their entire year’s supply. St. John has consistently seen bigger and brighter fires every year, Deibler said.
“Now I think about keeping candle stubs from my jack-o’-lanterns instead of throwing them away,” said Mary Zurg, a congregation member.
The process of collecting, processing and burning these items is fairly simple. This activity is cost-effective considering the materials needed. The congregation also takes pride in helping to reduce the amount of trash that gets thrown away by upcycling items that would otherwise be discarded.
One congregation member mentioned the connection between the worship services and the gathering of lint for Lent: We allow Jesus to remove the “lint” from our lint traps. In doing so, Jesus is able to show us that all of our traits and talents can shine brightly when given the spark, even when we think those traits are useless.
Throughout the year, the congregation holds on to these materials until Lent starts. The church then provides a box in which members can place their bags of lint and wax.
Just as we mold bricks for the fire, God molds us into beings who can turn darkness into light.
A week before Easter, Deibler and volunteers take the items from the collection bin outside. It is important to have good ventilation for this next step, as dandruff can get messy. Egg cartons are used as cheap and reusable molds for the materials. Volunteers then stuff lint and dryer sheets into the egg pockets. Once the cartons are filled, they are brought back inside.
This next step involves melting the crayons and candle stubs. Members use a nonstick pot and remove anything that isn’t wax. The mixture is then poured liberally on top of the lint. Deibler said a cup and a half of wax is poured onto each 12-egg carton. The idea is to have the wax hold the lint and dryer sheets together to form fire-starting bricks.
Once the bricks harden, they are removed from their cartons and stored until the Easter worship service. Turning the materials into bricks makes them easier to transport and helps keep everything together while burning. The congregation recommends using an elevated fire pit to contain the blaze, as it can burn very hot.
“When the pastor has done ceremonies behind the fire, he has commented on his back being ‘roasted’ throughout,” said member Jim Spawton.
After the worship service, it is important to dispose of the ash and remnants of paper. Contaminants from the wax and lint can’t be processed further, though members have tried in the past. It becomes difficult to handle and takes up unnecessary space in the church. Using a fire pit does make it easier to dispose of the ash.
While the fire lasts only a few minutes, it’s utilized in numerous ways. Members light all of the church’s candles for the day using these flames, including the paschal candle. These candles are a reminder that God can turn humanity’s most discarded aspects into centerpieces during worship.
“It is you who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness” (Psalm 18:28).
For it is God who helps us to see the greatness in all of our ideas and capabilities. Just as we mold bricks for the fire, God molds us into beings who can turn darkness into light.
