March 2006

Issue 193

St. Philip the Apostle
Episcopal Church Newsletter

Moving Forward Into Lent

Cheerful Greetings,

             March brings several changes at St. Philip's.  One is that I become your Acting Pastor.  I will be doing this on a half-time basis, which will mean less priest time than we have been accustomed to, but it will also allow the Bishop's Committee to save up a little money for moving costs and other expenses of calling a new Vicar.  This doesn't mean I won't be available when you need me.  The telephone works.  But it does mean that I won't be on the ground in the office as much as a full-time pastor might be.  I expect to be in church on Sundays most of the time.  I do have some Sundays committed, which the Bishop's Committee knew as we began, but I expect to be at St. Philip's altar on a very regular schedule.  See you in church!

             The other major change is we begin Lent.  In some ways Lent is a favorite season for many of us.  Though it doesn't have the joy of Christmas or Easter, the quieter self-examination and discipline is appealing in its own way.  Many of the reformers rejected the observance of Lent saying Christians ought to live like that all of the time, but as an imperfect person in an imperfect world I find the season very helpful.  It's a time to make assessments.  What am I doing that is hurting my spiritual life?  What am I doing that helps my spiritual life?  What are the things I used to do that helped my spiritual life that I might want to restart?  What are some new things I can do that might help my spiritual life?

             To develop a Lenten discipline I offer the following suggestion.  Begin with self-examination.  What are the things in your life and spiritual journey that you should address at this time?  After self-examination, choose specific disciplines carefully.  Conventional wisdom is one to eliminate and one to add.  Don't try to do everything.  You would be setting yourself up to fail.  Things to eliminate include food and drink and other indulgences.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing something you might want to leave behind forever.  Disciplines to add include spiritual exercises such as prayer times, meditation and bible study, and acts of caring such as helping with homeless suppers or tithing for the six weeks.  Choose disciplines that will stretch you, but not disciplines that will be so hard you are sure to fail.

             Different personality types find spiritual growth in different ways.  Some do well with private prayer and meditation.  Some find singing hymns is their way.  Some need something physical, like fasting or prayer that uses dance or interpretive motion.  Some need group activities.  Some need to give service, and there are other approaches.  Don't think you have to choose a traditional discipline just because it helps others.  Find out what makes you grow.

             Have a holy and growing Lent,

             The Reverend John L. Duncan