Pastor's Message

March 2004

Lent is a 40 day period of repentance and renewal of faith that precedes Easter. It began on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter. If you count the days from Ash Wednesday through Easter, you will actually get 47, including Easter and Ash Wednesday. If you do not count the Sundays, you will get 40. Jesus taught that “wedding guests cannot fast when the bridegroom is with them” (Mark 2:19). Every Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, and therefore we also celebrate the presence of Christ with us. Therefore Lent does not include those days when we celebrate the presence of Christ.

40 days is a common period of preparation in the Bible. Moses fasted and prayed for 40 days (Exodus 34:27-28) when God gave the Ten Commandments. Elijah fled for his life through the wilderness, after his encounter with the 70 prophets of Baal, running and fasting for 40 days and nights until he came to Mt. Horeb, where God appeared to him and instructed him in the continuation of his ministry (I Kings 19:1-18). Jesus, after he was baptized, withdrew into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days before he began his ministry (Matthew 4:1-2). We therefore follow Biblical examples by observing a 40 day period of preparation for Easter.

In the early church, Lent included public penance, leading up to baptism on Easter. In later years, the emphasis gradually shifted to private penance, even when baptism was still practiced on Easter. During the Middle Ages strict 40-day periods of fasting were obligatory for all Christians, to the extent that the night before Lent began (Shrove Tuesday or “Mardi Gras” in various cultures) any foods that were forbidden, such as sugar and fat, were consumed so that they wouldn’t even be in the pantry to tempt the members of the household during Lent. This is why we still have the practice of making donuts (fastnachts) on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Gradually the enforcement of these practices became less rigid so that today the emphasis has shifted from fasting to prayer and reflection, but Lent is still an important time of preparation for the celebration of Easter. There are six traditional practices I would like to suggest which can still help us all prepare more fully for Easter:

Fasting – Lent is a time to fast or give up some type of food. You may want to give up one big meal a week, choose more healthful foods or meals, do without snacks or just give up one of your favorite foods or drinks. Remember, Sundays are not part of the 40 days, so you can stop fasting on Sunday to focus on the celebration of Christ with us.

Self-Denial – not only of foods, as in fasting, but of time. This should be a positive act, foregoing some secular activities to make time for reading, studying, meditating or helping others. This would be a time to watch less television or attend fewer sports events to make time for studying Scripture or reading devotional guides. This would be a time to forego weekend trips or social events so that you can attend worship more faithfully.

Good Deeds and Almsgiving – deeds of self-sacrifice that can serve and benefit others. You might choose to give time and/or money to a program that works to alleviate hunger, poverty and suffering around the world. You might take part in a community or church program that helps others, for example religious education, programs for handicapped or mentally retarded people, or participating in St. Paul’s “Called to Care” program or visiting some of our own elderly and shut-ins. Or you might just take some time to help a neighbor, especially if you have a neighbor who needs help with simple chores around the house.

Prayer and Reflection – Make prayer a habit. Find several times each day to say a simple prayer of thanks or praise to God for some particular daily blessing. Take a moment before each meal to say grace. Set aside a quiet time for longer and more focused prayer. Pray the Psalms as part of your daily Bible readings. Pray for others.

Christian Study – take some extra time to read God’s word and reflect on how it transforms lives. You can do this personally through Bible readings, using the daily devotional guide “Our Daily Bread,” or joining a Sunday School class or Bible Study.

Worship – St. Paul's UCC offers a number of opportunities for special worship during Lent. There are mid-week services from February 25 through March 31. During Holy Week we have special services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday as well as our combined Easter Sunrise Service (this year at Zion Lutheran Church). These are not “substitute” services for our regular Sunday morning services, but are offered as additional opportunities for your Lenten preparation for Easter.

This year, take the challenge of Lent to heart. Consider the examples of Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Withdraw from the pressures of your daily life and give time and devotion to your preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection.