MEDITATION

Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.  Leviticus 19:2b

     The season of Lent begins this week with the Ash Wednesday service.   Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays (which are ‘little Easters’) leading up to Easter.  The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means “spring.”  The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter.  Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians.  Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection.

     Our Lenten observances will include, besides the Ash Wednesday service, a community Maundy Thursday Service held at Albright UMC on April 21, a Good Friday service here on April 22.  We will also share the Passion story on Sunday April 17, in our morning worship service.  \

      It is my hope that your personal Lenten time will include a special time of reflection on the work of Jesus Christ in your own life.  Some folks find that fasting (in any of its many forms) helps them to focus.  Others add a special devotional time or prayer emphasis to their regular schedule.  I’m sure that all of us would benefit from that.  Please include regular times of worship and study with your faith family who make the journey with you.