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A WORD FROM THE RECTOR
Greetings in the
Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!
“Happy Lent!” is not an expression likely to
be heard, but we may seek a holy Lent.
In Lent we are intentional about turning away from all that separates us
from God, and toward all that reconciles us to Him and
His will for us. One practice common in
Lent is denial. This practice (e.g.,
of fasting) reflects both Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, prior to the
beginning of His earthly ministry, and His word at Matthew 9.15: “The days will come, when the bridegroom is
taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
In the modern Church the practice of fasting is very much a matter of
individual conscience, although it is traditional to abstain from meat on
Fridays throughout Lent, and from all but the most necessary sustenance on Good
Friday. More particularly, Lent should
not be thought of in terms of denial only, but in terms of refocusing upon the
Lord.
Traditionally during this
period, pagan converts to Christianity were instructed and prepared for baptism
at the Great Vigil. (We will celebrate a
baptism at this Great Vigil on 11 April.)
Thus, this season started as a time of welcome and new beginning, and
assumed a penitential character only after the collapse of the
Even if we do think of Lent in terms of
penitence, it is not about guilt.
When we confess our sins, repent and return to the Lord, He removes our
sins from us, in the words of Psalm 103, “as far as the east is from the
west.” The sin is gone, and God
greets us anew as His new creation. As
individuals, as family members, as a parish family, let’s focus on that new
creation, on new growth in holiness.
Let’s focus on how we may grow in the knowledge and love and service of
God, which is our calling, and let’s never forget that in this holy season we
are to instruct all around us in the Way of Jesus Christ. The best form of instruction we can give is
in how we live, and so in this season, think and pray hard not so much about
what you are called to deny yourself, but about what you are called to do,
what new or increased service you are called to. It may be in the parish; it may be in the
surrounding community, but it is work undertaken in the name of the Lord, and by
this work we each refocus on God and His will for us.
The three year cycle of the
Gospel readings (we are currently in Year B) is taken from Matthew, Mark and
Luke. In Lent and Eastertide the Gospel
lessons come from John, and this allows us to contrast “Johannine”
theology with that found in the “Synoptic gospels”. The Synoptic gospels are so-called from the
Greek synoptikon (“through the same
lens”). Much of Matthew and Luke are
based on Mark, and the overall structure of each of these gospels is
similar. John is completely different. The structure in John can be characterized as
being comprised of a “Book of Signs” (1.1–12.11), a transition (12.12 through
13) and a “Book of Glory” (chs. 14–21). John refers to Jesus’ miracles as “signs”
(Greek = semeia). Beginning with his turning of water into wine
(2.1-11) and culminating with the raising of Lazarus (11.1-44), the signs point
to who Jesus is and what His mission is.
Jesus’ glory is then revealed in His discourses with His disciples and
His prayer to the Father (chs. 14–17), and finally on
the Cross and in His resurrection.
In parallel with the signs by
which Jesus’ identity and mission are revealed, He makes clear who He is in
seven “I AM” sayings. I AM (generally
written in our Bibles as “the Lord”
[all capitals])is the Holy Name of God revealed to Moses
at Exodus 3.14. Jesus says:
1. “I am the bread of life” (6.35),
2. “I am the light of the world” (8.12 and 9.5),
3. “I am the gate” (10.7-9),
4. “I am the good shepherd” (10.11-14),
5. “I am the resurrection and the life” (11.25),
6. “I am the way, the truth and the life” (14.6), and
7. “I am the vine” (15.1-5).
He also invokes the Name in telling the
Pharisees, “... before Abraham was, I am” (8.58), for which they try to stone
Him.
In Lent we call to mind how we
have strayed from God and seek through prayer, repentance and worship to so
identify ourselves with Jesus Christ that just as He and the Father are one
(John 10.30) we may be bound in this love by the Holy Spirit. We do well to focus on who
and what Jesus tells us He is. Look back
at the I AM sayings in John, and ask yourself a series
of questions to gauge your progress in pilgrimage:
1. Do you “taste and see that the Lord is good” (that He
is the bread of life) in your regular participation in the Holy
Eucharist?
2. Is Jesus the light of your world?
Do you seek His guidance in prayer?
3. Do you have faith that Jesus is the one and only
“gate” by which you gain
entrance
to the kingdom of heaven?
4. Is Jesus your shepherd? When He says “follow me,” do you follow?
5. Do you live in Christ, trusting in the resurrection
to life everlasting?
6. Is Jesus the one and only way, truth, and life, or an option
in your life?
7. Are you a branch grafted into the vine by
participating in Jesus’ Body in the
fellowship
of the Church?
We all stumble in our
pilgrimage, and our answer of “yes” to each of the above-listed questions can
be at times imperfect. But we never walk
alone. We walk together in fellowship,
knowing that where two or three are gathered together in the Name of our Lord,
He is with us (Matt. 18.20)(faith is something that we
do together). We walk with faith
that God has sent us His Spirit to guide us into all truth (John 14.17). Each time we stumble our Lord picks us up
when we but turn to Him, and so as we gather over the next weeks to continue
our pilgrimage together; as we gather to recall our Lord’s passion and
resurrection from the grave, we gather knowing that this glorious, risen Lord
is the same Lord who says to us, “Peace be with you,” that we too may say “My
Lord and my God!” (John 20.26-28).
Let us each have a holy Lent, that at Easter our joy may be more complete.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Grace Notes
Music:
The music selection this month is eclectic, with the hymns being less
identified with the season of Lent per se, and more identified with the lessons
for each Sunday. Thus, we’ll sing no.
401, The God of Abraham praise on the second Sunday of the season, when
our O.T. lesson speaks of God’s covenant with the patriarch through who’s progeny all peoples are blessed (Gen. 17.1-7,
15-16). Appropriately enough, the hymn
is sung to an ancient Hebrew melody. We
stay in the same key on the same day, singing no. 675, Take up your cross,
the Savior said.
Another O.T. theme occurs on
the third Sunday in Lent. We’ll sing no.
679, a late twentieth century hymn which is a paraphrase of the First Song
of Isaiah (Isaiah 12.2-6), as well as no. 436, Lift up your heads, ye
mighty gates, echoing the gospel lesson theme of Jesus entering His
Father’s house (at the cleansing of the Temple).
As well as echoing O.T. themes
in Lent we can, of course, also reflect on the call that we are to take up our
cross (as we do in hymn 675). But we can
also reflect on our Lord’s supreme sacrifice on the cross, and that it is by
this sign that death is conquered. Thus,
we’ll sing no. 473, Lift high the cross and no. 439, What wondrous love is
this, O my soul? Finally we recall
Jesus’ triumph in no. 388, O worship the King and no. 390, Praise to
the Lord!
Remember that you too can add to worship in music. In addition to singing in the congregation
you can sing in the choir. We are
blessed with an organist every week, so please come at 9:30 on Sunday morning
to rehearse.
Holy Days:
Holy days are secondary to the season in Lent and Eastertide. That said, there are
a number of notable commemorations. 1
March is St. David’s day, when it is traditional in
Vestry Highlights:
Treasurer’s Report: Operating account balance, $8,459.40; Capital account
balance, $61,997.80 of which $50,608.34 is the insurance payment
for roof repairs.
Rector’s Report: The Vestry will have a workshop March 14 to review the church mission
descriptions of Service,
Worship,
Education, Evangelism and Pastoral Care.
Options for completing the
flat roof vertical sections were discussed.
Hardy board will be installed, painted to match the
exterior walls in the courtyard. The
extra work will be done after other expenses are paid from the insurance
settlement.
The Audit Committee issued an
opinion letter stating that the financial records of the church are in order.
Committee Reports:
In-House Care:
Three meals were delivered during the month of January. Thank you to everyone who helped out. If you
or a family member is sick and would like a meal delivered, please call the
church office. Also, if you enjoy
cooking and would like to serve on a committee, please contact Carolyn Jane
Hay.
ECW:
The next meeting of the Episcopal Church Women will be held on Monday,
March 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the parish hall. We will be discussing the use of our
funds generated from the greenery sale last fall. All ladies of the parish are considered
members and we look forward to your participation, Sandy Gentry, ECW president.
Ushers:
Thanks to all who have ushered and filled in when needed. An usher is needed for the month of
August. Please contact