St. Mark's News

Page 1

March 2018

St. Mark’s News Volume 22/Issue 3

From Father Bill The next few weeks will be taken up in entirely different rhythms for us as we move through Lent. As intentional as I have tried to be in my Lenten observances, there is still always something different in store for me each year. I cherish God’s revealing of some new understanding of Christ that seems to come from paying closer attention to our call to a holy Lent. Life appears to take on a new and sometimes clearer meaning in a time dedicated to repentance, prayer, and self-denial. We are called to self-examination grounded in repentance. C.S. Lewis once said that repentance is “no fun at all!” He described it as a kind of death. It is the unlearning of self will that is hard wired into the human condition. I’ve found that confession takes on a truer meaning in Lent, a time of deeper reflection and honesty before God. Every year seems to bring a higher realism, a candor that is comforting as I allow God to get closer. Confession and repentance may be hard, and not much fun, but it is powerfully transformative.

In this Issue

So, too, there is something to be said for self-denial. When I was young, I generally understood Lent to be a time of “giving up,” like a mandate. “What are you giving up?” was the question. Somehow that never seemed to satisfy a deeper spiritual yearning, a hope for something more intimate with God. I’ve learned that coupled with self-denial is the key element of prayer. As I’ve turned to prayer more deliberately, I have discovered a new dimension for it, and in doing so I’ve displaced at least some of the clutter that captures my human imagination. We see Jesus teaching his disciples to pray and often wandering off to pray in solitude. Paul says to pray without stopping. James declares that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

From Fr. Bill................................ 1 Vestry Highlights ........................ 2 Rector Search ............................ 2 Lenten Opportunities .................. 2 Holy Week & Easter ................... 3 Parish Life .................................. 4 Outreach .................................... 5 Christian Formation .................... 5 Day School Notes ...................... 7 Caffeine Ministry ........................ 7 Parishioner Highlights ................ 9 Celebrations ............................. 10 ROTA ....................................... 11

Reading and meditating on God’s holy Word is a third element of our Lenten journey. From scripture we know that we are not alone in our life’s struggles or in our hard search for God. The psalms, in particular, have brought great comfort to me in Lent. There are seven great works of a penitential nature, beginning with Psalm 51 read on Ash Wednesday, that are uniquely designed for Lenten reflection. But there are many ways to employ the Word in new and significant ways during Lent. This is the time to take comfort from the prophets, apostles, and martyrs who have blazed a trail for us in following Christ. Scripture provides a treasure trove for us in this season. May we find new paths and may we sing a new song this Lent.

Fr. Bill

Page 1


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.