Vicars Letter
Lent
The
sort of mildly austere Lent of a few years ago is not so
popular not. The sort of thing one did was participate in
a Lent Study Group, attend a weekday service, give up
something, give money to a good cause, actively and
deliberately help someone else. We do not live in an age
of abstinence or austerity. Far more attend the Shrove
Tuesday Pancake evening than the Eucharist on Ash
Wednesday - given this, we may ask is it right to
continue as a church to sponsor the one while neglecting
the other?
Lent above all is preparation for Easter. This has always
had two elements: learning and growing more in the faith
and specifically looking at our lives, seeing where we
fall short, being penitent for our sins and seeking to
amend our lives. Abstinence is to further these two goals
and not an end in itself. If we are to examine our lives
we need quiet and space in which to do it. If we are to
learn of our faith we have to give up other activities to
have the time to learn. If we are to express our genuine
sorrow for our sins we are helped by tangible
expressions; saving spending on ourselves and giving the
money to a good cause it a good and helpful way of doing
this.
The new Common Worship extended preface for the
Eucharistic Prayer in Lent, very nicely says this,
'For in these forty days you lead us into the desert of
repentance that through a pilgrimage of prayer and
repentance we may grow in grace and learn to be your
people once again. through fasting, prayer and acts of
service you bring us back to your generous heart. Through
study of your holy word you open our eyes to your
presence in the world and free our hands to welcome
others into the radiant splendour of your love. As we
prepare to celebrate the Easter feast with joyful hearts
and minds we bless you for your mercy..'
So this Lent let us joyfully was participate in a Lent
Study Group, attend a weekday service, give up something,
give money to a good cause trusting it will help us grow
in grace and bring us closer to God's generous heart. And
let us only go to the Shrove Tuesday party if we are also
going to the Ash Wednesday Eucharist.
Christopher
Morgan-Jones
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