Getting Ready for Lent

Lent is approaching - in many ways it felt like it wasn't coming this year - but it actually is - it starts on Wednesday March 8 - that is about two wweks from now. So, it's time to start thinking about Lenten fasts.

Most of us "give up" something like chocolate or coffee or some such indulgence. That can be a good Lenten discipline - to fast from things that are luxuries - it is made even more meaningful if you take what you would have spent on that indulgence and give it away. So if you get a latte three times a week - that's about $10 or $60 during the Lenten season that could go to Habitat for Humanity or Episcopal Community Services or Heifer Project or whatever is on your heart.

Another way to fast for Lent is to give up meat - try eating a vegetarian diet a couple of days a week - or removing red meat from your diet. Again - donate the differenc ein your grocery bill to those who have less.

You also might try - instead of or in addition to - one of these practices, fasting from an hour of T.V. a couple of days a week and devote that time to prayer or spiritual reaidng or attending a Lenten event at church (hint, hint).

In any case - please pray about your Lenten practices and let me know if you want some suggestions.

Thoughts on troubled times

As you can probably tell I've been doing some reading in early Church writers recently. I found this in the Sayings of Syncletica, Mother of the Egyptian Desert - who is one of the earliest Christian women whose writings we have. This was written in the late 4th century - that is the late 300's but I think it still resounds today:

"Sailors beginning a voyage set the sails and look for a favorable wind, and later they meet a contyrary wind. Just because the wind has turned they do not throw the cargo overboard or abandon ship. They wait a little and battle against the storm until they can again set a direct course. And when we run into headwinds, let us put up the cross for our sail, and we shall voyage through the world in safety."

5th Century Enviornmentalism

I found this piece from a sermon by Leo the Great who was Bishop of Rome in the 450ish time frame when I was looking for some food for thought for our parish Facebook group.

Who knew that there were enviormentalists in the 5th century?

"Use creatures as they should be used: the earth, the sea, the sky, the air, the springs and the rivers. Give praise and glory to their Creator for all that you find beautiful and wonderful in them. See with your bodily eyes the light that shines on earht, but embrae with your whole soul and all your affections 'the true light which enlightens everyone who comes into this world.' Speaking of this light the prophet said: "Draw close to him and let his light shine upon you and your face will not blush with shame.' If indeed the temple of God and if the Spirit of God lives in us, then what every believer has within is greater than what the believer admires in the skies."

I just think that's so cool - I love looking at the stars and I'm inspiried by the thought that because the Spirit of God lives in me then what I have within is greater than Orion.

Confession of St. Peter

Today is the day that the Church celebrates the Confession of St. Peter. That is, the time when Jesus asked his disciples - "who do you say that I am?" and Peter responded - "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

So a good question for today for us is "Who do you say that He is?" and once you've answered that question - answer the next, "What does that mean for you?"

From Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, c.202 AD

This is from his treatise Against Heresies:

"Through creation itself the Word reveals God the Creator. Through the world he reveals the Lord who made the world. Through all that is fahioned he reveals the artist who crafted it all."

So - what does creation show you about God? What does the world show about God? How do you see God in the world and what does what you see in creation tell you about God?

Occaisonal Thoughts

I'm going to try something new this year - I am occaisionally going to post some thoughts from theologians of various times and places for consideration and comment if you like.

Here's the first one - this comes from St. Basil the Great who was Bishop of Caesarea in the 370's. This is from his treatise On the Holy Spirit.

"As we speak of worship in the Son becasue the Son is the image of God the Father, so we speak of worship in the Spirit becasue the Spirit is the manifestation of the divinity of the Lord. Through the light of the Spirit we behold the son, the splendor of God's glory, and through the Son, the very stamp of the Father, we are led to him who is the source both of his stamp, who is the Son, and of its seal, who is the Spirit."

What do you think? How might we today describe the relationship between the Father, the Son and the Spirit? And how do we worship each?

New Year's Resolutions

As the New Year begins thoughts generally turn to other new beginnings. New diets, to live into those resolutions about weight loss. New exercise programs with similar goals. New budgets to mark a new year and all of the othe rthings that begin with the new year.

It is also a good time to think about some new spiritual practices. Like all of the other disciplines we tend to start in January, exercise programs and the like, our spiritual practices need regular attention and January is a good time to start a new.

A couple of suggestions for a spiritual new year's resolution:

• Begin or end the day with prayer. The Book of Common Prayer has a section called "Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families" It begins on page 136 and has prayers for morning, noon, early evening and the close of day. They take about 5 minutes each. You might try starting with one or two. You can also find them on line at http://www.bcponline.org/DailyOffice/devotion.html
• If you want to do a little more pick up the Forward Day by Day booklet that you can find in the back of the church, the library or the office. Each day has a short mediation and the listings of the scripture readings for that day. You can read one of the readings and the meditation as a part of your daily prayer.
• If you want more, try adding Noonday Prayer or Compline to your day - these services are found in the Book of Common Prayer and take about 10 minutes each.
• If you want to go even deeper - try the Daily Office - Morning or Evening Prayer or both. All you need is a Book of Common Prayer and a Bible. Let me know if you need help starting one or the other. In an on-line version would work better for you check out the Mission of St. Clare http://www.missionstclare.com

If you'd like to talk about starting these or any other spiritual disciplines, please let me know. One of the best parts of my job is helping people find their way to a closer relationship with God.