As Christians in the tradition of the Episcopal Church, we are all called, in the name of the Church “to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.”
THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW about Lent:
·
Lent is a time of spiritual preparation for the
great celebration of Easter.
·
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 1 this
year). It lasts 40 days, not
counting Sundays, and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.
·
The liturgical color for Lent is purple, a royal
color, signifying Jesus’ reign in the Kingdom of God. Purple has also been called “mitigated black,” signifying
the somber, penitential character of Lent.
AT A MINIMUM, EVERYONE’S OBSERVANCE of Lent should include:
·
Attending corporate worship on Ash Wednesday,
every Sunday in Lent, and every day in Holy Week, especially Maundy Thursday
and Good Friday.
·
Keeping the fasts of Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday (for all who are medically able).
Eat simply, avoiding red meat.
A more rigorous fast avoids all meat. A strict fast permits only juice
and clear liquids until after sundown.
·
The adoption of some intentional Lenten
discipline to help focus awareness on our dependence on God. “Give up” or “take on” something for
Lent.
SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR LENTEN DISCIPLINES.
These suggestions in
bold might be particularly appropriate for children and families.
+ Pray daily.
·
If you are new to daily prayer, try all or part
of the Daily Devotions for Individuals
and Families (Book of Common Prayer, p. 136-140).
·
Pray the Daily Office (Morning and/or Evening
Prayer). Anglicans have been
praying these prayers since the Reformation. They are in the BCP or you can find entire services on-line,
including music (if you wish) and the appropriate Scripture readings for the
day at Mission St. Clare.
·
Pray the Psalms. In the Book of Common Prayer (p. 585) they are labeled so that the entire Psalter can be
prayed in a month: First Day: Morning Prayer, First Day:
Evening Prayer, Second Day: Morning Prayer, etc.
+ Use the daily
thoughts, practices and prompts from the Rev. Stephen Rozzelle provided in the
“Daily Inspiration for Lent” handout (available at church).
+ Stations of the
Cross is a worship service particularly appropriate during Lent. Stations will be offered at the Church
of the Holy Family in Park Forest at 6:30 PM on Fridays.
+ Make a
personal, private confession.
(Yes, we do that. Speak to
the priest.)
+ Give up
something or some practice in your life that squanders life’s goodness or
wastes life’s giftedness. Give up
whatever you do to “kill time.”
+ Give up a luxury… dessert, alcohol, “gourmet” coffee, television.
+ Attend the
Lenten study series on Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM at St. John’s. This year’s series is titled “Cloud of
Witnesses” and will present some of the rich stories of Episcopal saints.
+ Participate in Lent Madness, a fun way
to learn about the lives of exemplary Christians. Saints are arranged in a competitive bracket, posted in the
undercroft. Read about the saints
and vote daily online at www.lentmadness.org.
+ Use one of many
resources to maintain a daily practice of reflection.
·
Episcopal Relief and Development 2017 Lenten
Meditations booklets are available at the church. You may also sign up to receive daily reflections via e-mail HERE.
·
Living Well
Through Lent 2017 pamphlets are
available at the church. Another
daily meditation booklet, these are from a new Episcopal ministry called Living
Compass. This year’s meditations
focus on “Listening With All Your Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind.”
·
The
website d365.org offers daily meditations focused on inspirational and
relevant reflections on scripture for young people. During Lent the
focus will be on the journey to the cross.
+ This Lent the
“Cowley Fathers,” the brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, have
partnered with Virginia Seminary to develop a Lenten resource on “Five Marks of
Love”. If we are “marked as
Christ’s own,” what are the “marks of love” that characterize the Divine Life
abiding and at work within us? Each week will explore the Anglican Marks of
Mission (Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform and Treasure) through videos, questions
and exercises so we can speak more clearly and act truthfully, motivated always
by hearts marked by God’s love. More
information and downloadable resources are available HERE.
+ Participate in
the online Diocesan Lenten Book Study on dismantling racism. Beginning Ash Wednesday. Look for more information on the diocesan
Facebook page or website.
+ Resolve to do one thing each day that
benefits someone else.
+ De-clutter and
simplify. Each day in Lent sort
and clean out one area. One
drawer, one shelf in the linen closet, one box, one mug full of dead ballpoint
pens. Throw out or donate
everything that is not useful or enriching for your life.
+ Keep any of the
fasts described above for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday on all of the Fridays
in Lent.
+ Read the Litany
of Penitence (p. 267 in the Book of Common Prayer) daily and identify one (one
is enough) specific sin you have committed in the activities of each day. Avoid noting vague or general sins. In
corporate worship on Sunday, (silently) ask God’s forgiveness for these
specific sins at the time of the General Confession.
+ Read the
General Thanksgiving (p. 836 in the Book of Common Prayer) daily and identify
one (or more if you just can’t stop) specific things you are thankful
for each day. In corporate worship
on Sunday, give thanks to God.
+ Every time you mess up or fail with your
Lenten discipline, put aside a set amount of money and, at the end of
Lent, give it to the church or another organization that does God’s work. Or simply put aside money daily as a
Lenten discipline.
