Our church calendar this week brings us into a new season of contemplation, reflection, and focus. This past Sunday, we celebrated Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”). The idea behind Mardi Gras is expending our exuberance and decadence, literally getting the “fat/grease” out of the home to prepare for the asceticism of the Lenten season. Lent focuses our thought, minds, and spiritual practices on notions of prayer, fasting, contemplation, and self-denial. The most well-known Lenten practice is “giving something up.” Whether that’s limiting consumption of a food like soda or cookies, trying to rid your life of a vice like smoking or alcohol, or not eating meat on Fridays, these are all forms of “self-denial” which can turn our attention toward a God who is able to meet our every need, and satisfy our every hunger.
At First Presbyterian, over the next weeks, our worship services will have a more somber tone. We won’t be singing songs with joyful “Alleluias,” but rather reflecting on spiritual practices to deepen our relationship with God and grow our inward spiritual life. Lent commemorates the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and being tempted. When we intentionally deny ourselves certain comforts for a time or season, we can provide ourselves with opportunities for growth and reflection.
One practice you are invited to engage together is our weekly, Lenten lunch chats. Each Wednesday (March 12, 19, 26, and April 2, 9, & 16), you are encouraged to join us in the Social Room at 12:00 pm for a meal and a time of conversation. Our conversation will center around this year’s Lenten Devotional, “Bread of Life” from Illustrated Ministry. Printed copies of the text are available (for free) in the Narthex on Sundays. Prefer a digital copy? Just reach out to me (adam@fpcrc.org) and I can send you one.
What practices do you find helpful as you seek to deepen your connection with God during this season? Please share.
Very truly,
Pastor Adam
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