We are on the brink of the sacred journey of Lent, which lasts forty days, taking us from Ash Wednesday to Easter morning. Lent is a time of reflection and preparation. It is about worship and prayer. Traditionally, Lent focuses on giving something up, but it can also involve adding a practice of faith to our lives. Whether we give something up or add something, Lent focuses our attention on our faith as we prepare for the celebration of Easter.
We begin on the eve of Ash Wednesday, celebrating Fat Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday, with our annual Pancake Supper hosted by our college students. The Pancake Supper will be at 6:00 p.m. on February 17. On Ash Wednesday, February 18, we will gather at 6:00 p.m. for worship and the imposition of ashes. It is a meaningful way to begin the journey of Lent, and I encourage you to attend.
Our Lenten Lunches will begin on February 18 at 12:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. We will discuss, “A Novel Faith: How Writing Helps Us Form the Story of Our Faith.” We will learn from writers, but you will not be required to write. We will consider how we can intentionally form the story of our faith as we reflect on the life of Jesus.
As we take the first steps of this sacred journey, we must remember that Lent does not always involve something new. Lent can help us renew a practice of faith! I know friends who regularly write in their journals, but they will miss a day or two each week. During Lent, though, they are more intentional writing every day.
We can focus on a practice of faith during Lent, which is a regular part of our lives. We can engage in daily prayer, write in a journal, or pay closer attention during worship. We can renew our commitment to a meaningful practice of faith during this sacred journey, of preparing us for the renewal and restoration of God’s love at Easter.
-Tripp