Bible Reading: Mark 1:9-15
Dear Friends,
From the earliest time of the church, Lent has been a time for instruction in the faith. In fact, the season began as a time for those who wished to join the Christian faith to enter into a particularly focused time of reflection, penitence, and study before committing themselves to Christ at the Easter vigil service. Indeed, the rest of the church year grew out of and around this season of preparation. Some of the traditions that our church have observed – Wednesday night teachings, Friday morning Communion, contemplation of the cross of Jesus stem from these practices.
But in recent times, however, with hectic family calendars and personal schedules the church has had a harder time finding support for all that would have been assumed to be an “essential” part of Lent a generation ago. Which is why I’m curious, what do you do for Lent? And, more pointedly, does Lent still matter?
What, I mean, does Lent mean to you? Does it convey anything to you? What elements of the season make the strong impression? Does it prepare you to celebrate Easter or does it “stand alone” as a season or does it hardly register?
I think these are important questions because while the whole of the church year was designed to teach the Christian faith, many of those elements are not well understood or even confusing and for this reason not terribly effective. Which has many of us wondering whether the additional time and preparation that go into planning a season like Lent are worth it.
Of course, some within the congregation have found the ebb and flow of the seasons very helpful for emphasizing different elements of the Christian faith. These congregants plan Lent with some intentionality. So, again, I’m curious, what do you do for Lent? Does it still matter to you? What might you do to make it more meaningful?
However you celebrate it, let me simply say that I hope you have a meaningful and blessed Lenten season.
Solomzi