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Benefice Blog 2024

Looking Forward to Lent

Our curate, Rev Bevaly Rackett, looks at the Christian season of Lent, which this year begins in the middle of February...

Since early days, Christians have devotedly observed the events leading up to the death and rising again of Jesus Christ (known as his Passion and Resurrection). We prepare for this by a season of penitence and fasting, prayer, and study, known as Lent.

Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday (which this year also happens to be St Valentine’s Day) is a time when Christians remember when Jesus was in the desert being tempted by the devil for 40 days. It’s a time of preparation for Easter, of self-examination, and of spending more time with God – in prayer and Bible study, in activities which help other people, and in fasting (giving up luxury foods such as chocolate, cakes or biscuits – which will be even more of a challenge on Valentine’s Day!)

That’s why we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent: it’s a chance to use up rich foods like eggs, fats and milk, ready for more simple foods like fruit and vegetables. ‘Shrove’ comes from an Anglo-Saxon word, ‘shriving,’ which means to listen to someone’s sins and forgive them. Christians go to confession so that their souls may be cleansed.

It is a time to grow in faith and commitment to God. On Ash Wednesday we have a cross, made from the burnt ashes of last year’s palm crosses,put on our forehead as a sign that we have confessed our sins and have been forgiven. Check out the services to see where and when you can join us for this special service if you like. It is a time to change our habits, to look at our potential, and to try to determine what God is calling us to be doing now.

Why not spend some time during this Lent creating space for a personal encounter with God? God is always ready to connect with us - we just need to put aside the busy-ness of our daily lives and spend a little time talking and listening to Him (talking is easy, listening is much harder!) You never know what may come about after a conversation with God.

With blessings for the return of Spring.

Rev Bevaly Rackett
(Curate at the Haven Benefice)

February 2024

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