The season of LENT is upon us!
Are you involved in Lenten activities this year? What does this period mean to you?
For many people lent is about abstinence, particularly abstaining from luxury or ‘addictive’ items such as chocolate and other sweet things. For others, it is a time for reflection; a time to re-evaluate God’s purpose for us on earth.
The Church of England describes the purpose of the Lenten period as self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study and preparation for Easter and Holy week. What a challenge particularly over a 40-day period! Perhaps the best way to tackle the challenge is to take each and work out for yourself ways in which you might realise these in your life.
I am not particularly an abstainer during lent. I prefer to put my efforts into learning something new – I do not have the will power to maintain abstinence for 5 days let alone 40! Which is why I think it is important to commit to something regularly during the period to keep on track.
Every Wednesday evening during March, at 6:30pm, there will be a lent talk in the church. The themes are taken from Amy Scott Robinson’s book Grace: a journey from darkness to light at Easter. This will be an engaging way to examine the Christian message and to share that journey with others.
If you prefer taking the journey on your own, try the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2023, Failure – what Jesus said about sin, mistakes and messing stuff up by Emma Imeson. The contemporary content will have you glued to this book and you will be asking yourself questions throughout.
Which is, I suppose, what the Lenten period challenges us to do.
May God walk with you, challenge you and guide you as we prepare for Easter.
Martin Dines