Dear friends,
On behalf of the entire Church, I invite you to observe a Holy Lent.
At this point, we are 4 days into Lent and some of you are making headway with your chosen Lenten discipline. Some of you are still hoping to figure out how you will observe Lent. Others have already abandoned commitments that they haven’t been able to honor. Having given you some time to consider how you will observe Lent, I’d like to share a few words as well as some resources for your Lenten journey. I always find it helpful to review the history and purpose of Christian observances. Lent, the period of 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays), began on Ash Wednesday, and ended at sundown on Holy Saturday, the evening before Easter. It began as a period of intense preparation for converts preparing for their baptism at Easter. It was a time for them to learn and put into practice the distinctive practices of Christianity that nurtured faith and set them apart from the rest of the world. It eventually also became a time for self-examination for those who had committed a major sin that separated them from the church, preparing them to be reconciled and re-enter life in the church community. Eventually, Lent was broadened to include the entire Church, inviting all Christians to a time for attending to the practices of Christianity with renewed integrity.
Taking into account these different strands of history that have shaped Lent, it seems to me that the primary question for us each lent is: “How can I live more fully in my faith, increasing my love of God and neighbor?” I think that is a more helpful question than simply focusing on “what am I giving up for Lent,” which easily leads to some disconnected act of denial like giving up ice cream. It provides a new measuring stick – is my commitment something that is nurturing my love of God and neighbor?
In that context, we find that our commitments during Lent could focus on “giving up” something that damages or limits our relationship with God and others, or, it could just as easily involve “taking on” a practice that will bring us to greater love of God and neighbor, making us more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. If our intention is to strengthen our relationship with God and our neighbor, then it makes sense that it be something that we intend to continue beyond Lent. Lent becomes a time of commitment and practicing a new habit or way of being in the world, giving it 40 days to take root.
Perhaps you will find the following exercise helpful for discerning your commitment this year:
Close your eyes and quiet your mind for a minute or two. Then imagine that Jesus is standing alongside you. The two of you are going to walk through a typical day together, week or month. Slowly imagine the two of you going through your day together. What do you do that day? How are you spending your time? Who do you meet along the way and how are you responding to them? What do you find most rewarding in the course of that day? What is most troubling to you? As Jesus walks alongside you through your day, what do you imagine him noticing? Why is he noting that? Are there times during your day that make him smile, or times when his face drops in disappointment?
Next, consider what changes you could make in your life that would cause him and you more delight and what change might lessen his disappointment? What practice would put you on the right path? Traditionally, Lenten disciplines fall under one of these broad areas: prayer, meditating on scripture, fasting, and service, Perhaps one or more of these areas call out to you this year. Whatever you decide, consider something you would like to make a permanent part of your spiritual life, not just some passing fad for Lent. Lastly, don’t be overly ambitious. Do one or two simple things that will bring you closer to God and others.
I have prepared several resources for your lenten journey, all available on the resource table set up in the Narthex. Please feel free to take any of the material and share them with friends. As always, feel free to contact me for some suggestions.
- “A Brief Guide to Christian Fasting”
- “Daily Scripture Lessons bookmark for Lent.” Daily readings from the Bible related to the scripture lessons are read on Sunday mornings.
A service of “Daily prayer for Lent,” to help you establish a simple ritual for daily prayer at home. - “Food for the Journey,” a series of leaflets focusing on different forms of prayer: Lectio Divina (Praying With Scripture, Praying the Breath Prayer, Praying the Ignation Examen Discernment . Others will be added.
Praying with the labyrinth – a leaflet explaining various ways of using a Labyrinth as a prayer tool. (We have a labyrinth in the field adjacent to the parking lot.”
In addition, you will receive Daily Reflections for Lent emailed to you each day.
Two programatic offerings that you might consider as part of your Lenten Journey.
- A Service of Taizé Evening Prayer will be held each Wednesday, from 6:15- 6:50 (beginning March 1). A light soup dinner will be available at 5:30 for those who would like to have dinner together first. This brief, 35-minute candle-lit service is in the style of Taizé, the ecumenical monastic community in France. The service consists of several meditative songs sung repeatedly so as to allow their meaning to sink deep, a brief scripture reading, intercessory prayer, and a long period of silence for meditating and resting in God’s presence. Many find the service to be very renewing.
- A class in Spirituality for the Second Half of Life, Mondays at 12:30, beginning March 6. This new class will be available in person as well as via Zoom. Using the book Falling Upward by Richard Rohr, we will look at what he suggests are the primary tasks of the two halves of life, youth, and aging. We will explore Rohr’s view of the second half of life, which differs from the conventional focus on decline. Rohr’s thesis is that what looks like falling down can instead be experienced as “falling upward.” In fact, it is not a loss but actually a gain, as we have all seen with elders who have come to their fullness. The book costs $17.99. You can purchase your own copy or check that you would like us to order a book on the registration form.
How will you be observing this Lent? We will have a moment for making our commitment during worship on Sunday. Whatever you choose or have already chosen, I pray it will be something meaningful that will help you arrive at Easter assured that Christ does live and brings us new life. Then, Easter will be a true day of joy.
Yours in faith,