A Call to Lent

Fr. Jerry Smith Feb 02, 2010

In the Book of Common Prayer on which I was weaned, this past Sunday would have been Septuagesima, or 70 Days before Easter. This coming Sunday would be Sexagesima and the following Sunday Quinquagesima. This period is also known as the Pre-Lenten season or Shrovetide.

Interestingly, as much as we seem sold on the 40-day period of the Lenten season, there was a time that it was much longer (and even a period that it was shorter) than what we now observe.

These last three Sundays before Ash Wednesday were considered ‘preparation’ Sundays. They provided Christians with a time to reflect on what they needed be doing during Lent to allow the formation of that season to be most effective.

I would like to invite you to use these next three weeks to contemplate participating in the following four areas of spiritual discipline.

Prayer:

I invite you to be intentional about your prayer life, in particular to join the community of Jesus followers in the Daily Office, especially Morning Prayer and Compline. If you are able, Morning Prayer is read at 7:30 am every day at St B’s, or you can make this a family discipline. There is no better way to end your day than by reading Compline each evening right before bed!

Stewardship:

I invite every member of the community to practice tithing for the season, if you don't already. (Biblically this means 10% of your income be offered to your local church. Other charities should be supported from your “free will offerings” or “sacrificial gifts,” both of which are other biblical models of giving).  If you already tithe, I invite you to sacrificially increase your offering.

Service:

I invite you to find an area of service new to you and commit yourself to fulfill an obligation, 'as unto the Lord'.

Study:

Finally, I invite you to commit to participating in a weekly Lenten Study in the Parish Hall every Wednesday evening from 6:30 - 8:00pm. The study will be entitled "Following Jesus toward the Promised Land: A biblical study of people on the move"

Lent can be a wonderful time of spiritual revitalization, but it does demand that we be willing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to see the work begun brought closer to completion.

Join me in the journey of a Holy Lent.

 

Jerry+