LENT | fpcgh

Lent

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday on March 5.

We will be having a service that Wednesday at 7:00 pm with imposition of ashes.

Lent isn’t a particularly Presbyterian thing. It’s not mentioned in the Bible. Most likely, it began with the early Christian Church. By the early 4th century, fasting before Easter had become more common. The 40-day period of Lent – between Transfiguration and Palm Sundays – was formalized at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of believers for Easter through prayer, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, almsgiving, simple living, and self-denial. Eastern Orthodox traditions sometimes refer to Lent as the season of “bright sadness.” I like that.

Most people nowadays equate Lent with the Roman Catholic Church. Few recognize that the Reformed Tradition – of which the Presbyterian Church belongs – sprung out of the Roman Catholic Church. Some of those pre-reformation traditions can be beneficial to our faith, as long as those traditions help us draw closer to God. For this reason, Lenten practices have become more common in many reformed churches today.

Before the time of Jesus, fasting was tied to almsgiving. When a person fasted, they were not meant to take the money that they saved and keep it for themselves. Any money not spent on food was meant to be given to the poor. And that idea of almsgiving will be our focus in Lent this year.

Last autumn, our Community Concerns team decided to partner with the Children’s Hunger Fund to collectively participate in almsgiving this Lenten season. Throughout the season, we’ll have opportunities to support this vital outreach ministry. See ways you can participate in this partnership in this edition of the Spire.

Our Bible Study groups will also be participating in a study based on the curriculum titled “Rethink Mercy” published by the Children’s Hunger Fund. Lenten Booklets are available in the narthex and in the church office. They are free to all. A big thank you to Sue O’Connor, Gary Ventimiglia, Stephanie Deach-Foyle, Sham Buda and all the authors who contributed to making this Lenten Booklet happen.

For further information on the Rethink Mercy curriculum, you can go to this website: childrenshungerfund.org/rmf/. My Lenten Sermon Series will be based on this, as well.

For me, the darkness and solemness of Lent and Holy Week prepares us to be shocked and overwhelmed by the glory and joy of Resurrection. May this season of “bright sadness” be one that draws us closer to God. If you “give something up for Lent,” prayerfully consider using the money you save to support this local/global mission. I pray that God’s message of mercy, lovingkindness and compassion touches our hearts and transforms our lives to become more merciful, more loving and more kind.

It is in the name of Jesus we serve a broken world.

I remain yours,

Lance