Friends,
“I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.” The Book of Common Prayer, Service for Ash Wednesday Lent begins next Wednesday. As we have done for several years, I encourage you to support the good people of All Saints with their Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. See below. Then join us for Ash Wednesday at noon and 7pm for the imposition of ashes. Then start your Lenten discipline.
Lent is very personal and it is intended to be. I will admit I struggle to maintain my Lenten discipline. I start out with good intentions, but then I lapse. Example: I give up sweets and comfort foods. But these are my go to behaviors for stress relief. I exacerbate the problem by creating stress in my fasting. I crave more what I cannot have. By the third and fourth weeks of Lent, I am miserable.
I pledge now I will observe a holy Lent. I encourage you to do the same. If you see me crabby in the final weeks of Lent, I am successful with fasting. I will need your assistance. I will keep you in my prayers and ask you to do the same.
May God bless you in Lent and bless your fast.
Paul+