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 RECTOR'S RAMBLINGS

RECTOR’S RAMBLINGS               

February, 2012

Dear Friends,

Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent is February 22^nd.   Lent is a penitential season though penance is not the only Lenten theme.   The Eucharistic Preface for Lent calls Lent a time to “prepare with joy for the Paschal feast”.  Joy, love and renewal are as much Lenten themes as are penitence, fasting and self denial.  It is within the context of our preparation for Easter that the Lenten practices and disciplines are carried out.   The hope of new life that we celebrate on Easter is the context within which we live the season of Lent.

When we think of Lent only as a time to “take on” or “give something up” we miss the most important opportunity that we are offered during Lent.   In Lent, we are called to be open to a change of heart and mind.   This involves taking a look at where we are and trying to see where we want to be.  It involves looking at our values and our life, our relationships and most important our relationship with God and Jesus to see if we need to make adjustments so that we can live closer to the gospel life that Jesus set down for us.   Fortunately, we never have to do this alone.  God’s word gives us a lot of help in the process. 

I recently received an email telling me about The Center for Biblical Studies.   The Center is offering a bible challenge to individuals, parishes and diocese to read the bible cover to cover in one year.  Lent would be a perfect time to take up this challenge. 

Here are The Bible Challenge options for 2012:

• Read the entire Bible
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• Read the New Testament
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• Read the Psalter (150 Psalms) during Lent
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• Read the Gospel of Mark in a slow, meditative fashion during Lent
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• Read The Message by Eugene Petersen – a wonderful rendering of the New Testament in ordinary language
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• Read The Story by Zondervan – a seamless collection of Bible stories that reads like a gripping novel
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• Families with children are encouraged to read The Spark Story Bible, The DK Children’s Illustrated Bible or The Big Picture Story Bible.
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If you decide to read the entire Bible, please refer to their website’s reading plan, which lists what chapters of the Bible to read each day.  They have also posted short meditations to accompany each day’s readings written by archbishops, bishops, biblical scholars, theologians, cathedral and seminary deans, clergy and noted lay leaders from around the world.  The website is thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org. There is a link below 

http://www.thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org.

If you do not have access to a computer, I’ve made copies of the reading plan on the table in the hallway. 

Please plan on attending our Lenten series called “I Will with God’s Help” on Wednesday nights starting on Wednesday, February 29^that 6 p.m. for a pot luck followed by a facilitated discussion on The Baptismal Covenant.

I also encourage you to participate in all the Lenten, Holy Week, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday services.  Taking this Lenten journey together will be a blessing and joy when together we shout Alleluia, Christ Is Risen!  The Lord is Risen Indeed, Alleluia on Easter morning.

Blessings,

Pat