Hello St. John’s family, 

This is a Lenten email to put in one place some of the many opportunities to engage with one of my favourite seasons. 

LENTEN PRACTICES

I invite you therefore, in the name of the Lord, to observe a holy Lent by self-examination, penitence, prayer, fasting, and almsigiving, and by reading and meditating on the word of God

(BAS pg. 282)

Penitence

An old Anglican saying about the Sacrament of Reconciliation is “all may, none must, some should.” 

Reconciliation (sometimes known as confession & absolution) is not about shaming, but about facing the brokenness in our lives and finding freedom, trusting in the tender love and mercy of God. 

Please contact me if you would like to book an appointment for the sacrament of reconciliation (virtual or in-person).

If you are not comfortable with doing so with me, I can refer you to another priest. 

There is also a service for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Book of Alternative Services for those who are not ordained, if you have a special Spirit friend that you would prefer to make a confession with. 

Prayer

A Lenten practice of prayer can look like many things, however, one resource to assist you in this is the Sea to Sky Deanery Morning Prayer – back for a second year!

Every Tuesday to Friday morning in Lent (starting Thursday March 3rd) we will have a different church in our deanery leading a 20 minute prayer at 8am. 

Come to as many or as few as you want to support your Lenten practice!

The Zoom link will be:
 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87834067237

Another opportunity to prayer and reflect will be on Thursday Evenings at 7pm, with Squamish United, as we discuss Kate Bowler’s book, Good Enough. This will begin next week (Thursday March 10th). Please register by contacting the office. Participants are responsible for obtaining their own book

Lastly, if you would like something prayerful, educational, and just a little bit silly, I recommend Lent Madness. In the words of the hosts and creators of Lent Madness,

Amidst all the silliness, Lent Madness reminds us that God does extraordinary things in the lives of ordinary people. People of all sorts and conditions can be bearers of Christ's light in the world if they but open themselves up to God's transforming grace. When you play Lent Madness, you are constantly shown the imperfect but yet inspiring lives of people from many cultures, nations, and eras.

Find out more here: https://www.lentmadness.org/

Fasting

The most classic of Lenten practices. This is not about unhealthy “diet culture,” but about choosing to go without something for our spiritual nourishment and growth, this can be food, activities, or attitudes. At its best, it is a wholistic process, and meshes with our other Lenten practices. 

For example, if you are going without…chocolate, maybe you can use money from your chocolate budget to save for something for yourself, or to give to those who are hungry. If you are going without social media, maybe you could instead use that time for prayer, or time with family, or rest. We say no to something to say yes to something else.  

Almsgiving

One part of Lent is “almsgiving” – taking practical actions to help those in need. 

This can take many forms, but I invite you, if you feel so moved, to gather food for the foodbank. 

Set out a box and every day of Lent put in one item from your pantry. Alternatively, every time you go to the grocery story, plan and shop for a meal or two for a family to put in your box. You might also put out a jar to collect change over the season. 

At the end of Lent, we will deliver the food (and money) we collected to the food bank (we can arrange pickup and delivery in Squamish). 

Meditating on the word of God

One free resource you might appreciate as part of your Lenten practice might be Behold the Lamb: Lenten reflections from Canadian Anglicans. It has a Bible reading and a short reflection for each day of Lent. Rev. Cameron contributed a reflection for this cross-country resource. 

https://tinyurl.com/2p92zf86

The aim is not to do everything, for this to be a great weight to crush you. Do what makes sense for you and what will prepare the soil of your heart and life for the joy of the resurrection and new life. 

May we all have a holy Lent, my dear friends in Christ. 

Yours in the Spirit,

CG+