Lent 2011 at St George's
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Keeping a Holy Lent and the Prayer Book
The Prayer Book invites us to keep a Holy Lent, "by self-examination and repentance, by prayer, fasting and self-denial, and by reading and meditation upon God's holy Word". The importance of "taking things on" in Lent is generally appreciated, even if we find it hard to do. The traditional practice of "giving things up" is less appreciated, so I will say a few things about that.
The Canadian Book of Common Prayer appoints the 40 days of Lent and almost all Fridays of the year as days of abstinence. Friday is a weekly memorial of our Lord's Passion and a day for turning back to God. The days of Lent are days of self-denial which emphasize both the seriousness of sin and the greater Love of God. But what does it mean to keep these as days of abstinence?
Fasting has an outward and in inward part. The outward part involves giving up food and drink for a period of time. The Prayer Book appoints days of fasting and abstinence, but it is not said how exactly we are to fast. In the early Church, fasting often consisted of a complete giving up of food and drink until after evening prayer (in liturgical time, evening prayer marks the beginning of a new day). Abstinence may involve giving up certain kinds of food (like meat or cheese), giving up one meal, eating less at meals, or giving up delicacies. Fasting is not dieting! How we fast is left to our judgment, only that it should involve real self-denial.
Fasting also has an inward part. The great purpose of fasting is prayer. This explains why fasting usually involves not only a denial of certain food, but a withdrawal even from innocent and normal past-times or social occasions. Fasting is an expression of sorrow over sin and a kind of spiritual training. Fasting or abstinence can make our bodies more human, more responsive to the work of the Holy Spirit, and more aware of our dependence on God. In the Gospel according to St Matthew, Jesus teaches his disciples how to fast. It is hard to imagine why he would do this unless he intended his disciples then and his disciples now to fast.
The greatest hindrance to fasting and abstinence may be low expectations. Perhaps we don't fast because we don't hope for much, don't expect much. In the words of one theologian, "we kill the flesh in order to acquire a body." We fast so that the whole of who we are may be more alive with the life of the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday March 9 - Ash Wednesday
6.30am Morning Prayer & Litany - said
7.00am Holy Communion (said) with Imposition of Ashes
10.00am Holy Communion (said) with Imposition of Ashes
5.30pm Evening Prayer
7.00pm Choral Communion with Imposition of Ashes
Setting: Missa Orbis Factor - plainsong
During the Imposition of Ashes: Psalm 51 - Miserere Mei - Antonio Lotti
Motet: Plorate Filii Israel (from Jepthah) - Carissimi
Hymns: Ah, Holy Jesu (Herzliebster Jesu); Lord Jesus think on me (Southwell); Giver of the perfect gift (Song 13)
Quiet Day, March 19 sponsored by the Prayer Book Society (Nova Scotia & PEI Branch)
Led by Fr David Curry, Rector of the Parish of Windsor and Chaplain at King's-Edgehill School.
Topic: A Lenten Pilgrimage: Meditations on Bonaventure's The Journey of the Soul to God. Copies of the reading can be emailed or mailed to participants or purchased: Bonaventure: The Soul's Journey Into God (translated by Ewert H. Cousins, in the Classics of Western Spirituality series, pages 53-116). March 19, 2011 9am-5pm at King's Edgehill School, Windsor, NS. Morning Prayer at 9am in the chapel, addresses to be held elsewhere at the school. $10 registration fee- includes lunch and photocopies of reading. Please register by March 13 by email to Jane Neish, janeneish@yahoo.ca or to Elizabeth Curry. Registration fee can be paid to Jane on March 19th.
Illuminating the Liturgy
On Friday, April 1st, Fr. Westhaver will hold a session in which he will guide us through the Holy Communion Liturgy, discussing the significance of the movements, the ceremonial and the placement of the prayers and readings. The session for all who are interested will take place in the chancel of the Round Church, beginning at 7 pm.