Hello St. Paul’s,
What does Lent mean to you? Maybe the word awakens uncomfortable thoughts about self-denial and austerity. After all, we are urged to “fast, pray, and give” with special intention during this season of preparation for Holy Week and Easter.
Maybe it’s time for some rehabilitation of the concept.
How about if you were to think of Lent as a time of special opportunity to grow closer to the love of God? In the northern hemisphere, Lent occurs as Spring is springing: even the word Lent is related to an old English word for Spring. Spring is all about new life, renewed hope, the welcoming back of the warmth of the sun after the cold dreariness of winter. What if we were to start thinking of Lent as a spiritual springtime? What seeds might you plant in your spiritual garden in these six weeks?
You might consider joining a group to read a book together: we have three opportunities, including a Sunday morning in-person series (starting this week), and two which meet virtually during weekday evenings (“Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape” and “Fingerprints of God – What Science is Learning about the Brain and Spiritual Experience”). Additional details about all three can be found here.
You might consider making an extra effort to attend Choral Evensong on Sunday afternoons at 5 pm, enjoying the contemplative vibe of this ancient and beautiful service of music and prayer.
You might come on Friday evenings at 6 pm to walk the Stations of the Cross, focusing your meditation on the last day of Jesus’ life as he carried his cross through Jerusalem.
You might seize an opportunity to refresh your understanding of the Episcopal Church: how we pray, how we approach the Bible; how we govern ourselves. “What is an Episcopalian?” will meet on Tuesday evenings in person for five weeks starting on February 24. If you feel called to be confirmed, received into the Episcopal Church, or to reaffirm your faith before the Bishop at the Great Vigil of Easter on the evening of April 4, this is the class for you. However, taking the class doesn’t oblige you to go ahead with any of those rites.
I hope you’ll consider tending your soul garden in the season ahead, starting with attending one of our Ash Wednesday services (7 am, noon, and 7 pm on February 18).
See you in church!
Your sister in Christ,
Penny
