St Peter’s Church, Lodsworth
St Mary’s Church, Easebourne
‘in FAITH we FOLLOW + in HOPE we LIVE + in LOVE we SERVE’
February 2024
Dear Friends,
Can you imagine a roast dinner without gravy, or a sticky toffee pudding without custard? Maybe your answer is yes, because you don’t like gravy or custard, and that would be fine – but in the church you definitely can’t have Easter without Lent. The two are linked so closely in a spiritual sense that to have one without the other would leave you spiritually malnourished.
From the early church, preparation for Easter and the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection, has always included a period of prayer and reflection. This season of Lent, set over 40 days, reflects Jesus’ time in the wilderness after his baptism – like us, he found all the challenges of the world and it put him in preparation for all that lay ahead in his ministry.
For those who go to church, this period of Lent becomes a challenge. Traditionally people give something up for Lent and then moan tirelessly that they miss it for 40 days. I personally never give up anything – for me, doing something you wouldn’t normally do is much better. One year I set myself the challenge of phoning someone each day for a chat; they loved it and so did I.
Lent preparation, even if you don’t go to church, is a really good challenge. You can set yourself the task of finding some peace each day, or making sure you go for a walk. Lent always falls in Spring – maybe set yourself the challenge of ‘enjoying Spring’ like you have never done before.
At the end of Lent, Easter comes as a wonderful time for the church. The church celebrates love in its fullest sense: unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal. For many, who never regularly attend church, Easter is a key moment in their years – and I, with my church families love welcoming everybody in. So, if like us, you love a good Easter service, why not add some gravy or custard this year, and share the season of Lent with us.
With many blessings,
Revd Canon Derek Welsman
If you would like to view any of the reflections or services
that Derek recorded since March 2020 please click here.
To find a simple form of daily prayer click here (also available as a video)
Other prayer resources may be found on the Church of England website.
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