Practices of Lent
Renew Our Repentance and Faith
The opening to Ash Wednesday service of imposition of ashes reads: “Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful, were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. In this manner, the whole Congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need that all Christians continually have to renew our repentance and faith.”
Lent is the seasonal remembrance that repentant-faith in Christ is not a one-time act, but a whole-life transformation. The Christian life, from beginning to end, is to “put off” our old selves of sin and death and cloth ourselves in the new creation life of Jesus Christ. To renew our repentance and faith, there are a few tried and tested practices of Christ’s people that we engage in during Lent:
Fasting
Whether a partial fast (giving up meat, sugar, or alcohol), a total fast for portions of Lent, or a behavioral fast (giving up social media, TV, etc.), fasting is a way to create space in our heart, our mind, our stomach, and our calendar that can be filled with the things of God. God’s Old Testament people fasted, God’s New Testament people fasted. Are you sinning if you don’t give something up for Lent? Absolutely not. But it can be a very helpful practice in the life of the Christian.
Simply put: Giving something up for Lent opens up space within ourselves for a fuller love of God and a deeper love of neighbor.
Charitable Giving, “Almsgiving”
Along with fasting, another practice of denying ourselves and focusing on God is an increased level of giving to the poor during Lent (above our regular tithes and offerings). As we reflect on the fact that, apart from the grace of God, we are all spiritually bankrupt in God’s eyes, this frees us to rely less and less on our own resources as we grow in the knowledge that in Christ we have all we need. Traditionally, the money that would have been spent on what one is giving up (meals, alcohol, entertainment, etc.) is set aside and given to the poor. We have a Benevolence-Alms Fund that you can designate your gifts to, whether in person or online. These gifts will be used for the immediate needs of others as they are presented to us at the church. Please prayerfully consider giving generously to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those in and around our community.
Prayer
Pray in Community – Praying with other Christians is incredibly formative, both for our closeness to God and to one another. Prioritizing the services of Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Easter Morning) is especially encouraged.
Pray in Honesty – Many prayers by godly men and women throughout the Bible are prayers said in frustration, despair, weakness, and pain. As we come into the penitential season of Lent, this is a time not only to pray more, but to pray more honestly.
Pray in Weakness – We can come to God with all our wishes, all our flaws, all the things we are really focusing on. They might not sound lofty or worthy of God’s time; bring them to God anyway.
Scripture Memory
Consider memorizing a passage of Scripture in this season. Psalm 1 and Matthew 6:25-34 are recommended.
Confession
Many of us have sins that we know in our heads are forgiven, but our hearts still bear the guilt and shame of them. In the same way that we find freedom in giving up earthly pleasures, we can also find freedom in unburdening ourselves of sins with the rite of confession and absolution. This is done one-on-one with a priest and can be a very formative and freeing experience. If you’re interested, please get in touch to make an appointment.
Title Image: The Prodigal Son, John Macallan Swan