Anticipating Lent
Next Wednesday, February 18, marks the beginning of Lent. Lent (the etymology of Lent comes from the word “lengthen,” i.e. the days are getting longer) is the 40 day season before Easter that, over time, has come to emphasize, in the words of the Book of Common Prayer, “self-examination and repentance; prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.” We have three Ash Wednesday worship services: 7:00 a.m., noon, and 7:00 p.m. I hope that all would be able to attend one of the services as our congregation begins this holy season.
Traditionally, individuals “give up” something for Lent. The point of this abstinence is not somehow to earn God’s favor, but, rather, that in depriving our body of something good (food, for instance), we might create space for God to minister to us, to speak to us, and for us to lean more fully into him.
On the other hand, individuals often “take up” something during Lent as well. This is usually some kind of spiritual discipline, whether extra prayer, study, or service. Again, this isn’t to be a burden, nor is it to merit God’s love, but to open our hearts, minds, and bodies to a greater experience of God and his boundless love, for us and for the world around us.
Please do begin to pray about what God might be leading you to do this Lent, whether “giving up” or “taking up” (or both!). If you are looking for ideas, we will be having a “Thursday Evenings in Lent” series beginning on 2/26. There will be a light dinner and Bible study, focusing specifically on passages from Paul’s letters on prayer. There will also be a program for children. Also, we have a Eucharist each Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m., which is an intimate service that usually lasts around 30 minutes. Many find it a great way to remain focused on the Lord during the week. Finally, there are many great devotional books available for Lent. Bread and Wine, which is a companion to the Advent devotional Watch for the Light, has several rich essays from a wide variety of authors on Lenten themes. Henri Nouwen’s Show Me the Way is also full of profound spiritual insights. N. T. Wright recently published a collection of biblical reflections based on the Lectionary titled Lent for Everyone. This year, Lectionary Year “B” (ask me for information on what that means if you’d like!), focuses on Mark.
Again, please don’t take any of these suggestions as burdens, but simply invitations to create space in our lives for a deeper experience of God’s grace. I’m looking forward to observing a “holy Lent” with you all.
On another note, a clergy colleague of mine, Erin Bair, will be in Phoenix from the D.C. area for the next couple of months. Erin was ordained several years ago by Bishop John Guernsey (our first bishop!), and has served as an associate at an ACNA church in Northern Virginia for the past few years. She is here to help her sister and brother-in-law with a new foster child, and will likely return to D.C. toward the end of March. She has been attending the 11:15 a.m. service, so, from time to time over the next couple of months, she’ll assist at that service, I have asked her to preach at both services on a Sunday in March.
In discussing this with the wardens, Vestry, and staff over the past month, it has become apparent that we need to have a congregational conversation about women’s ordination. This is an incredibly sensitive issue for many, on many levels. However, it is an issue that we simply can’t avoid, and I think that, as a congregation, we’re mature enough to have the discussion. To that end, I plan to spend a chunk of the fall during the adult education hour walking through the issue, trusting that, as we do, God will lead us to a place where the tension within the Anglican Communion (Uganda, for example, supports the ordination of women, while Nigeria doesn’t) and the ACNA (our former bishop, Bill Thompson, doesn’t support the ordination of women, while our new bishop, Keith Andrews, does) isn’t necessarily resolved, but is somehow acknowledged in a way that is marked by understanding and generosity. Honestly, I don’t know what that will look like for us, but I do know that we need to, humbly and openly and graciously, find out.