Archive for February 2011

It’s never to late for Lent by Revd. Trevor Jamison

26/02/2011 by idavidsonblog.

Lent is late this year.  Lent is late because Easter is late.  Easter Day is the first Sunday after the full moon following the Spring Equinox, 21st March, unless that full moon fell on a Sunday, in which case Easter would be the following Sunday (yes, I had to look that up in order to be sure I got it right).  This means that the date of Easter varies and this year it does not arrive until 24th April.  Since Lent is a fixed period that precedes Easter then the starting date for Lent this year is 9th March, Ash Wednesday. 

So, after the pancakes have been eaten up on Shrove Tuesday – celebrated in some places as Mardi gras – what do we intend to do for Lent this year?  Of course there are the traditional opportunities to give something up for Lent.  Once again I’m giving up alcohol for Lent, a reassurance and reminder that I don’t depend on alcohol in order to live a happy, fulfilled life.  Given that yet more statistics about the impact on alcohol misuse in this country have recently been published – an article in the Lancet informs us that an additional quarter of a million people could die from alcohol abuse over the next twenty years unless tougher restrictions on alcohol are introduced* – the lesson of alcohol restraint or abstinence is one for the nation, not just for individuals (for those in the two congregations in the pastorate that use wine, not grape juice, in Holy Communion, you might like to know that Sundays in Lent are regarded as “mini-Easters”, not part of Lent itself). 

As well as giving things up for Lent there is the tradition of doing something positive to mark the season.  Often, in Church settings, this includes taking time to learn together, since Lent is understood as a period of reflection and preparation for the events of Holy Week and Easter; remembering Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection.  All three Churches in our pastorate are “doing something for Lent” this year. 

In Ingatestone, along with the local Anglican, Elim Pentecostal and Roman Catholic Churches, we meet to follow the York Course material.  We gather and listen to a conversation via CD between eminent Christians, this year looking at Jesus’ “legacy of love”; what He left behind Him, such as an empty tomb, a band of followers and a meal to be shared. 

Over in Brentwood, in company with the local Methodist Church, we are taking part in The Big Read, a national initiative, following on a highly successful event in the northeast last year, reading our way through Matthew’s Gospel and meeting weekly to discuss what strikes us about the story. 

Finally in Billericay, we are continuing with the Emmaus Course, now meeting in small groups to explore “How Christians Grow” – by learning to pray, reading the Bible, belonging to the Church and sharing Holy Communion. 

If you are able, I encourage you take part in these initiatives, both gaining from the insights of others and encouraging others by your presence and contribution.  If you secretly hanker to do what one of the other Churches in the pastorate is doing for Lent this year I’m sure that a temporary transfer is not out of the question! 

Whatever you do this Lent, whether in terms of stepping back from something or taking on something new, whether done in a group setting or as an individual, I wish you well for this part of the journey towards Easter. 

Trevor 

*           BBC News, 21st February 2011            http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12523639 

 

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