Celebrating Lent
By Nancy Muth, Pastor
It’s Lent! The 200th Lenten Season to be celebrated at The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown.
Actually, that’s probably not true, for as Presbyterians celebrating Lent is relatively new. Yes, we have always observed Holy Week with worship services on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, but the weeks leading up to those days before Easter have been more a part of the Roman Catholic tradition than Presbyterian.
Recently, however, that has changed and as Presbyterians we take Lent very seriously. It begins with Ash Wednesday and continues for the next forty days (excluding Sundays).
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. It originated in the fourth century as a time of preparation for those who were to be baptized and join the church on Easter Sunday.
Also, it is when those who had been separated from the Church would prepare to rejoin the community. Lent was a time of preparation. And so it is that preparation is still part of Lent as we, even Presbyterians, learn what it means to follow Jesus Christ.
Typically what comes to mind when we think of Lent is the act of giving something up . . . of sacrificing. This idea has its roots in the early church as people did penance in order to reenter the church after denying the faith. This is a practice that is not part of our Presbyterian Lenten observance, unless, by fasting or giving something up we feel it deepens our spiritual life. So what then should we be doing during Lent?
I suggest we still consider Lent as a time of preparation as we journey with our Lord to Jerusalem. It was there when he met with the disciples in the Upper Room on what we call Maundy Thursday. He gave his friends and followers a commandment of love and service (which is what Maundy means). This commandment was given to us as well. May we use this Lenten Season to prepare ourselves to follow our Lord and his commandment of love and service.
During these Lenten weeks our church provides some ways to help in our preparation. First, we can begin each day with devotion and morning prayer. This is a practice that will deepen your relationship with Christ far more than will giving up chocolate.
There are Lenten Devotionals available at church that will guide you in a ten minute reflection and prayer each day for these weeks leading up to Easter. Also, on Thursdays during Lent, a special film series is planned that will introduce you to a film maker who makes documentaries that are captivating and thought provoking (see article in this newsletter).
On Sunday mornings during Lent we will be reflecting on worship in the morning sermons. Worship is central to who we are as Christians and critical in our Lenten preparation.
I invite you to be part of the 2009 Lenten journey at First Church and as always I hope to see you in Church!