How to Celebrate Lent - According to The Lord

From the book of Isaiah, Chapter 58:


7)  What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry

7)  I want you to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.

7)  Give clothes to those in need

7)  being available to your own families.

9)  Don't mistreat others

9)  Don't falsely accuse others

9)  Don't say something cruel or ugly to another

9)  get rid of unfair practices

9)  quit blaming victims

9)  quit gossiping about other people's sins

10) be generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,

13)  treat Sunday with respect by refraining from your normal activities,
    and by refraining from your selfish pursuits and from making business deals

13) treat the Sabbath as a day of joy

13) make Sunday a day of celebration

Remembering to Take Time to Take a Time Out

Lent begins February 10th.
Lent encourages us to look within ourselves to see how we have confused popular cultural values with Christian faith.  

We need Lent!

From the very earliest times, Christians took time out before Easter to reflect on their faith, cultivate it, and prepare for a most joyous celebration of Easter.

Remembering that Jesus took 40 days off to prepare for the beginning of his ministry,
the church sets aside these 40 days prior to Easter for us to get ready.

This is a time for us to explore the mysteries of the universe, looking beneath the surface – within ourselves -- examining our own motives and desires, and ascertaining exactly what our commitment is: to what, to whom, and what it means.

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus went out into the desert for 40 days.
For 40 days he lived without food or, presumably water.
For 40 days he confronted his demons.
For 40 days he prayed.
For 40 days he communed with his God.

Suffice it to say, upon completion of his 40 days in the desert, Jesus had a clearer picture of his purpose in life,
of his reason for being,
of his God-given mission.
And he embarked on his course of demonstrating the reign of love on earth.

Traditionally, the church has set aside these 40 days prior to Easter as a time for personal reflection toward discovery of our purpose and renewed commitment to our faith.

Many cultures make a lot over the fasting nature of these 40 days.
Carnival is celebrated in many parts of the world the day before Lent begins as the last chance to eat meat for 40 days!
In this country Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans on “fat Tuesday” – the day before the 40 day fast begins.

Today, we see these 40 days as an opportunity to attend to the parts of our lives that we often neglect.  We are challenged to open ourselves in new ways to the Spirit’s transforming power.

Because Presbyterians rebelled against all things Catholic, Lent was never celebrated in most Presbyterian churches until  recent years.  But, Lent is such a rich time.
It is an excellent opportunity for us to really focus on things that matter.

Lent is meant to remind us that
the days are getting longer –
Spring is right around the corner.  Signs of life are preparing to bud right in front of our eyes.
And,  we need to prepare ourselves to see these signs!

We need Lent!
Lent encourages us to look within ourselves to see how we have confused popular cultural values with Christian faith.
Through a sustained focus on the life and ministry of Jesus, Lent can help us resist the pressures of this culture.
Lent can remind us that we are called to continue his ministry:  "As the Father has sent me, so I send you"  (John 20:21). 
Consequently, Lent prepares us for an Easter that is more than bunnies and eggs,
an Easter that begins a whole new reality – a whole new world.

From the beginning, part and parcel of the Lenten observance has been alms giving. 
The purpose of fasting is not so much a bodily discipline as it is a sharing discipline.  Becoming aware of the needs of others, and responding to them with generous gifts of our time and talents and money are particularly transforming.

During this season, many of our Presbyterian Churches will be emphasizing our One Great Hour of Sharing as a concrete way of self-sacrifice for the needs of others. 
The discipline of a daily gift to the One Great Hour of Sharing jar is a concrete way of focusing our thoughts on our individual purpose for living.
It becomes an expression of the faith we proclaim. 

40 Days, 40 Acts Toward The Best Easter Ever

Jesus took 40 days to prepare himself to do what he was born to do.
Christians hold up 40 days prior to Easter each year to prepare ourselves to experience Easter in the very best possible way.

Rather than giving something(s) up for Lent this year, consider taking something on.
Consider taking on a specific act of generosity each day during Lent this year.  
You could have the very best Easter ever.

"What if Lent could be more than just giving stuff up? 

What if it could remind us that we're here; alive and able to make a generous difference to the world around us?
Join 75,000 people doing Lent generously this year, with 40 days, 40 brand new reflections and 40 acts of generosity. 
Sign up to receive ‪#‎40acts‬ emails from February 10th until March 24th 2016 and receive a daily dose of generosity during Lent.

With blogs written by Rev. Kate Bottley ( Gogglebox, The Dancing Vicar), Bridget Plass, Dan Usher (Share the Miracle), Emma Scrivener (A New Name) Steve Legg ( Sorted Men's Magazine), Fiona Morrison ( Tearfund), Graham Miller (London City Mission) and many more.

You are here. Are you ready?"

Check out NewCelebrations.com

Easter! March 27 this year.

The most important event for Christians the world over.

Easter is of such importance that the Church has set aside 40 days before for folks to prepare themselves and get ready for a proper celebration on March 27. 

This season is called Lent and begins with Ash Wednesday, February 10 this year.

We at NewCelebrations believe that this year could be the most meaningful Easter you, your family, and your congregation have ever had.

Take a look at resources being offered to stimulate your thinking.

And let us know what you will be doing - or what you have done - to prepare for a more meaningful Easter this year. 

  

10 Tips for a Simpler More Meaningful Easter

1. Plan ahead. Instead of going on auto-pilot, hold a family meeting to decide what the group really wants to do and who’s going to do what. Observe Lent for 40 days before Easter, possibly with a study/action/prayer guide or calendar.

2. Focus on relationships with family, friends and other people, and with God, rather that on “stuff.” Spend your time, energy and money nurturing people, not things.

3. For a symbol of Easter, look to Jesus’ resurrection. Bunnies, eggs and candy have been taken over by commerce. Do they tell the story you want to tell? Let’s tell the real stories of our faith and values. Reserve fertility rites for the first day of Spring, March 21st; Earth Day, April 22nd or May Day, May 1st.

4. Avoid debt and gluttony. Refuse to be pressured by advertising to over spend or over eat. Build community with a meal of mostly locally produced food – planned, prepared and cleaned up by the whole family.

5. Avoid stress. Give to yourself. Don’t assume that things have to be the same way they’ve always been. Make changes slowly but persistently. Don’t try to change everything and everybody all at once. The resistance may make you feel defeated and lonely.

6. If you need to give gifts, give appropriate ones. Get to know the recipient. Give what they want to receive, not what you want to buy. Give children one thing they really want, rather than many gifts. Set a price ceiling. Put gifts out shortly before
opening them. Then take turns opening them, not all at once, so that each gift can be admired and each giver thanked.

7. Give alternative gifts. Give at least 25% of what you spend to the needy… individuals or groups locally, nationally or internationally.

8. Give of yourself, not just “stuff” – a coupon book for future services (such as baby-sitting or an “enchanted evening”) or something baked, sewn, handmade, composed, etc. Consider more time for volunteering rather than entertainment. If you need to give cards, make your own.

9. If you need to buy gifts and clothing, buy those from developing countries at alternative gift markets, not from commercial importers, so that the artisans receive a fair price for their work. Avoid mass produced knickknacks, novelties and toys. Fancy,
expensive clothes are signs of status, not respect for God. In church they show an inappropriate blend of culture and faith. Decline to compliment people for their finery. Avoid the “ritual display of plenty” characteristic of the Easter fashion parades prevalent earlier in the century.

10. Choose simplicity of decoration over extravagance, for example, one modest, well-placed display instead of dozens of lilies in church or home. Avoid plastic and imported flowers and trimming.

Note:  This article originally appeared in Alternatives for Simple Living, in 1999 - a publication no longer available.