What are we doing for Lent this year?
Check back here for updates as the season continues!
Sundays
As fits with our Lenten “sharing” theme, kids are invited to bring nonperishable food for the local pantry – check here for guidelines on what to bring. We’ll gather the food at the altar and say a prayer of blessing when it’s delivered.
Thursdays
Beginning March 2
What is Lent?
Holy Week and Easter (April 2 – April 9) are when we remember and celebrate Christ’s last days, death and resurrection. Lent (meaning “Spring”) is a forty day season (beginning February 22) meant to lead us into these events.
Originally, Lent was a time of preparation for those who would be baptized at Easter. Now, it’s observed as a time of renewal for all. We want to know personally the “abundant grace and free gift” (Romans 5:17) in Christ; to die to what was and rise to new life.
Traditional Lenten disciplines like fasting (“giving up something”), prayer and almsgiving are about this dying to what was, to old habits, so new hope can emerge. This year, might we focus on almsgiving? Giving to the poor in this divided and unequal society can be a dying to what’s “mine alone” and rising to a life of “what’s mine is ours.”
About this Lent
Almsgiving relates to this year’s theme of First Day and our focus on Sundays. One of the central practices of Sunday (along with assembling and feasting) is giving, sharing – whether it’s our offering, coffee or time.
To explore this First Day theme, we’ve been reflecting on the experience of the first Christians, upon receiving God’s generous gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2):
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Three things to notice about this giving and sharing:
They didn’t just share their gifts, but their needs. Maybe that’s hard if we’re under pressure to mostly project images of happiness and contentment. But in addition to sharing money or time, we’re called to share our struggles and stories. Most of the gospel readings we’ll hear during Lent are about individuals doing some candid sharing with Jesus (such as Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman). We’ll invite some of you to share your stories at the 9am conversation before worship.
This sharing draws together giver with recipient: “had all things in common” might be translated “they were in communion” (Greek: koinonia). Charity can be given blindly, as if my contribution permits me to keep some distance, not to really get involved, come to know your experience, receive what you offer. Might we find ways to get to know, for example, locals who receive our benevolence gifts?
They ate their bread with hearts that were both generous and glad. Discipline, fasting and almsgiving sound like bitter pills to swallow. Our sharing and generosity is glad when we’re mindful of what God gives: all that we have, all that we are, but also (as we’ll hear Jesus put it to Nicodemus): “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son …” An fitting image for Lent and our theme of sharing might be a simple crucifix, showing the posture of a God who gives his Son, his very self.