Lent 2010 at St George's
| Who Are We? |
| Worship at St George's |
| Service Schedule |
| Upcoming Events |
| Music |
| Christian Education |
| Getting Involved |
| Outreach |
| YouthNet |
| History |
| Documents & Sermons |
| Contact Us |
| Site Map |
 |
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 February 17 - 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 - Gregorio Allegri
Motet: Emendemus In Melius - William Byrd
Hymns: My song is love unknown (Love Unknown); Giver of the perfect gift (Song 13); Ah, Holy Jesu (Herzliebster Jesu)
Postlude: O Mensch bewein dein Sünde Gross (O Man Bewail Thy Grievous Sins) - J. S. BACH (BVW 622)
Praying the Psalms with St Augustine: Tuesday Evenings 7.45pm - 9pm, or Wednesday 10.45am - noon The psalms are the prayers of Christ, of the Church, of Christians individually. That is, at least, how we use them in our services. Yet, sometimes the language of the psalms seems strange and difficult, even if we all have our favourites. These meetings will give us a chance to see how the Psalms have been prayed and read in the Church. We will use St Augustine as our guide. The goal will be to be able to pray and understand the psalms better, to see how they can be a guide to us, and to see how they guide public worship also. When: Tuesday evenings from 7:45 to 9 pm (after HC), or Wednesday from 10:45 to noon (after HC). Please come to the session that best suits your schedule.
Parish Lenten Retreat March 6-8, 2010: St. Gregory of Nyssa's Life of Moses and the Journey into God Father Christopher Snook will lead us on our Lenten Retreat this year at 'Our Lady of Grace Monastery.' Registration for the retreat has now closed. One or two retreatants need assistance with the fee. If you would like to sponsor a retreatant, please speak to Fr Westhaver. Retreat brochure (updated January 29)