nagpur churches are associated with austerity but the changing social milieu and rising incomes are giving way to some ostentation among the believers much to the chagrin of the church and elders of christian community the protestant practice of holding lent day prayer meetings at homes of parishioners is fast turning into community feasts having sumptuous spreads the meetings are held at homes to promote solidarity and inspire faith and piety among the fold says prakash timothy pastor at st thomas church ajni forty day lent period is observed with a lot of solemnity at these meetings we collectively meditate and dwell over the teachings of christ he adds the church has split its parish into four zones and members are selected for the purpose of the meeting in a manner that would help others join in nonchristians are also invited says the pastor till a few years ago light refreshments in the form of tea or soft drinks were served but now that has given way to lavish meals as almost everybody observes fast during lent this custom of breaking fast together after prayers has always been there timothy adds the gathering sings hymns prays and listens to the sermon delivered by the pastor there are many who come from far and we are all there for nearly four to five hours people are hungry after the day long fast so it is nothing but good hospitality to offer them a filling meal says abraham joseph an rpf inspector who recently organized one such meeting at his home for 80 people we had prepared items like puri sabzi kadi dahi vada and pulao it would be wrong to expect them to go home and cook he says and adds rising incomes in many homes makes it possible opposing this trend retired professor cn bhalerao says all that is required to be served is tea and biscuits i cant afford it so i had asked the church committee to bring just a few people to my house and i served them light refreshments he says he adds that another argument doing the rounds is that unless there is lure of good food community members will not turn up though this is a period of abstinence yet people are including items like biryani and pulao for nonchristian invitees he complains this is a period for repentance redemption and introspection says father satish nanda of all saints cathedral the prayer meetings are about remembering the sacrifices of jesus it is wrong to convert this simple and pious practice into a dinner gathering where people socialize over a feast he observes