“TAKING THE CROSS TO HEART”
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
It’s now the time called “Mid Lent.” The Fourth Sunday in Lent (this year, March 26th) is the beginning of the second half of Lenten Sundays. It is traditionally called “Refreshment Sunday,” a time when the Church and the faithful lighten-up a bit and figuratively take a deep breath to re-dedicate ourselves, because very soon we set our faces toward Holy Week. So it seems like a good time to reflect on your Lenten journey thus far. Have you been faithful to the call to observe “a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word” [BCP p. 265]? Did you get off to a good start on Ash Wednesday but have since drifted? Have you had any difficulties (maybe surprising ones) with your seasonal disciplines? Perhaps you are one of those who don’t give Lent a thought except when you encounter it in church on Sunday mornings.
Whatever the case, I want to remind all of you about the ecumenical Lenten program we are sharing with St. James Catholic Church, First United Methodist Church, and Christ the King Lutheran Church and we invite you to join in. Here, I’ve entitled it “Taking the Cross to Heart” because the focus is the examination and transformation of your spiritual heart. From special bulletin inserts each Sunday, you are called to meditate on that day’s Scriptures and then ask yourself the specific questions provided in order to reflect on how the grace of God may transform and free your heart to be a more faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. [At St. James, their program is “Lord, Create in me a New Heart,” but I don’t know how the others are titled.] Whatever the name by which we in these four congregations know the program, we are identifying our common journey by wearing a special pin—an emblem of a “heart” with the Cross superimposed on it. These have been passed out at All Saints’ since the first Sunday in Lent, and I will continue to pass them out until Palm Sunday. It has really been impressive to see so many people all over town wearing these pins! When you see someone wearing the pin, you are asked to introduce yourself to that person, identifying your church, and encourage him or her in their Lenten experience. On Good Friday, we will leave our pins at the foot of the Cross (during the Veneration) as a token of offering our hearts—our reflections, prayers, and need for transformation—to the loving, crucified Lord who brings glorious new life on Easter Day.
Even if you haven’t been participating thus far, it’s really not too late. You may come by the office and pick up the previous bulletin inserts for your reflections (or give us a call and we’ll mail them to you). I suggest that you use the reflection notes privately at first, and then have a discussion with someone else or a small group that you can get together. There are several good opportunities for such a group—family members, friends, neighbors, people from your parish family group, or folks you happen to know from one of the other congregations.
But this program won’t end with Lent. We are planning to have two or three common meetings with the people of St. James, FUMC, and Christ the King during the Great Fifty Days of Easter with the focus being on new, transformed lives of discipleship. (Of course, it will be at either St. James or FUMC since they have facilities large enough to host—just wait ‘til next year!). At this point, the idea is to gather for a potluck supper, have a short presentation, and then break into small groups for some reflection and sharing (probably with a facilitator for guidance). All of this has really stirred up a lot of interest among hundreds of people! So, again: How are you doing?
Faithfully,
Shannon +
