Observing Lent 2011 - some thoughts and suggestions

The Introduction to the Communion Service for Ash Wednesday in both the Methodist Worship Book and Common Worship (the Liturgical collection for the Church of England) conclude with similarly worded invitations extended to the people gathered:

In the name of Christ, therefore, I invite you to observe this holy season of Lent, by prayer, self-denial and charitable giving; by self-examination and repentance; and by reading and meditating on God’s word.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. Many find it helpful though to give some thought ahead of the day itself as to how they are going to ‘observe this holy season of Lent’, so that it does not find them unprepared and unready.

This page offers some suggestions as to how you might observe this holy season. You don’t have to do everything suggested (really!), but you might like to choose something(s) from each section and work really hard to stick to it/them throughout the Season.

The suggestions are based around the themes for our Lenten Study Groups and Sermon Series:

  • Going deeper into God
  • Transforming Communities
  • Making new Disciples

which, as you may already know, are the three foci for the St Albans Diocesan Initiative: Living God’s Love. The Season of Lent is an ideal opportunity for each of us to focus clearly on ways in which we might really deepen our understanding of what these three areas may mean: for us personally, for the community in which we worship, and for the community that St. Mary’s serves.

I offer my continued prayers for you all: prayers for a holy season of Lent – a ‘good Lent’. A Lent that at the end of which each of us will be found ready to welcome our risen Lord and Saviour with open hearts and willing minds at the glorious feast of Easter.

Revd Deborah Snowball - Priest-in-Charge of St Mary the Virgin, RickmansworthDo speak to me if you would like to know more or talk through issues, thoughts or inspirations that may arise within you.

 

Prayer possibilities

Going deeper into God

  • Create a ‘Prayer Space’ or ‘Prayer Chair’ in your home and spend some time in it each day: place a candle there, perhaps a cross or crucifix, your Bible and some Study Notes for the season or use the Daily Lectionary Readings.
  • Go on a daily Prayer Walk: notice the change in the seasons, give thanks for creation, pray for care of the environment.
  • Recite the Jesus Prayer for five minutes each day:  “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner”.

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Transforming Communities

  • Go through your Address Book and give thanks for each the people you know and the good things they bring into your life.
  • Take a page of the newspaper and pray for the people mentioned on it.
  • Think of one person with whom you find it difficult to get along: pray for them each day and for a healing of the difficulties between you.

Making New Disciples

  • Think of a friend or member of your family who has been a churchgoer in the past but who not been for some time. Pray for them each day of Lent that they might return to worship and invite them to one of the Services over the Easter period.
  • Reflect on who taught you about God. What did they do well? Give thanks for this. What gaps are there still (if any!)? Think about: how you could share what you know with others; what you could learn from others? Pray for ‘divine inspiration’ as to how you might make these things happen.
  • Develop the skill of ‘holy loitering’ where you are simply in a place, praying for the people there, available for conversations that might occur – and listening deeply for where the Holy Spirit is at work, prompting you to carry the person in prayer as you go your separate ways.

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Suggestions for practical action

Going deeper into God

  • Read the newspapers or listen to / watch the news each day, and carry the people whom you read/hear about around in your heart – praying for them as you go.
  • Note in your diary now the different Services for Holy Week and Easter and decide to enter more deeply into the Season by attending something new or different.
  • Ask Deborah for a conversation about how you might ‘re-order’ your Spiritual life and observance.

Transforming Communities

  • Visit the Volunteer Centre in Basing House, or pages on Ceefax, to discover what volunteering opportunities there are locally.
  • Recycle everything properly for a week and notice the difference in your rubbish bin.
  • Think about how you might serve St. Mary’s in the coming year, as a member of the United Church Council or the Deanery Synod/Circuit Meeting. Speak to Deborah if you are interested or if you would like to know more.

Making New Disciples

  • Talk about Church and what is going on – at home, with friends, with colleagues – in a relaxed, informal style. Let people know your faith is alive and active – and theirs may be kindled too.
  • Reflect on what makes you glad to be a Christian – and think about how this would make a difference to the lives of the people you know, and think about how you might find safe and gentle ways you to share this... and try it!
  • Pick up extra copies of the 'Lent, Holy Week and Easter' leaflet from church and give them to your friends.

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A Holy Reading List

Going deeper into God

  • Lent for Everyone: Matthew - Year A
    Tom WRIGHT (ISBN No: 9780281062218)
  • Feast + Fast: Food For Lent and Easter
    Christina REES (ISBN No: 9780232528442)
  • The Song Forever New:
    Lent and Easter Meditations on Wesley’s Hymns
    Paul WESLEY  (ISBN No. 9780281062188)

Transforming Communities

  • Beyond The Good Samaritan
    Ann MORISY (ISBN No: 0826471412)
  • The Transforming Power of Prayer: From Illusion to Reality
    Michael MARSHALL (ISBN No: 9781441117243)
  • Barefoot Disciple: Walking the Way of Passionate Humility
    Stephen CHERRY (ISBN No: 9781441182869)

Making New Disciples

  • The opening chapters of the Gospels of Matthew and Mark and The Acts of the Apostles
  • Mission-shaped church (ISBN No: 9780715141892)
  • From the Abundance of the Heart: Catholic Evangelism for all Christians
    Stephen COTTRELL (ISBN No: 0232526362)

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Websites to view

Going deeper into God

Transforming Communities

Making New Disciples

  • www.aftersunday.org.uk
    Offers insights and ideas for us all as to how to take our faith out into the world with us – beyond Sunday mornings.

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Last updated: February 22, 2011

 

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