It's Lent


A Blessed Ash Wednesday to you!  Lent – the Church season of repentance and renewal – started so early in 2018 that it seems late this year!  Many people connect these 40 days (or 46, if you include Sundays) with giving something up, like sweets, or alcohol, or Facebook.  However, I like to engage Lent as a time for spiritual renewal – getting my inner temple cleaned up in order to welcome the Risen Christ at Easter.  There are several ways to do that, and I will list some below, but please note that I am not suggesting anyone does ALL of these things.  Select one or two that you want to do and do well, to nurture your relationship with God.

Lent shouldn’t be about feeling bad about yourself.  Yes, we need to be aware of how our lives fall short of doing God’s will, but in God’s mercy, we are offered the benefit of rededicating ourselves to loving our neighbor as ourselves and as God love’s us.  Confession and repentance are about new life, not punishment.  Let’s commit ourselves to a spiritual house cleaning and be present to God’s Spirit at work in our lives every day!

Lent Madness - www.lentmadness.org Celebrating its 10th year! With its unique blend of competition, education, and humor, Lent Madness allows participants to be inspired by the ways in which God has worked through the lives of saints over the generations. Based loosely on the NCAA basketball tournament of a similar name, this online devotion pits 32 saints against one another in a single-elimination bracket as voters choose their favorites throughout Lent.
Here’s how to participate: on the weekdays of Lent, information is posted at lentmadness.org about two different saints. Each pairing remains open for 24 hours as participants read about and then vote to determine which saint moves on to the next round. Sixteen saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Faithful Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the coveted Golden Halo.

Living Well through Lent www.livingcompass.org/lent Practicing Forgiveness with All Your Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind.  A free resource is available at this website. This devotional is intended to be used for daily personal reflection as we journey through Lent. Each Sunday begins with a reflection written by one of the featured writers. Every other day of the week begins with a scripture or quote, followed by a reflection, and then space for you to record any thoughts, feelings, or insights. This resource is particularly helpful if you are struggling with forgiving someone who hurt you.

Life Transformed – The Way of Love in Lent www.episcopalchurch.org/life-transformed St. Barnabas will join the other Episcopal Churches in the greater New Brunswick area at St. Alban’s (148 Lee Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901) on Saturday, March 23rd from 8:30 am – 3:15 pm for this quite day.  Please sign up in Hubbard Hall.  Cost $5 for lunch.
The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into his life, self- giving, and death; then, we rise in hope to life transformed. This Lent, communities are invited to walk with Jesus in his Way of Love and into the experience of transformed life. Together, we will reflect anew on the loving actions of God as recounted in the Easter Vigil readings. Together, we will walk through the depths of salvation history into the fullness of redemption. This Quiet Day for Lent ties the Easter Vigil readings to the seven practices of the Way of Love.

Becoming Beloved Community https://www.episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community The Ministry of Racial Diversity and the Vestry encourage all members to join our weekly Lenten Program. Dinner will begin at 6:30 m.  The program will start at 7:15 pm.  Please sign up in Hubbard Hall to bring soup, salad or bread for dinner. 
As the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, we dream and work to foster Beloved Communities where all people may experience dignity and abundant life and see themselves and others as beloved children of God. Together, we are growing as reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers in the name of Christ. Each week we will discuss different ways we begin healing our brokenness with honest conversations about race and racism.

I pray you have a blessed and holy Lent.

In Christ,
Rev. Valerie+

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