The Season of Lent
Well, here we are reaching the end of January already and it sure has been a great summer for ducks! Weather aside, I trust you had a wonderful Christmas celebrating the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I must confess, as usual I ate too much but slept well!
Here at St Mark’s, we are back into the full swing of things with midweek services, and morning prayer on Zoom (Thursday and Friday.) It seems really early but as we look ahead Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, is not far away (February the 18th).
The season of Lent is a time of conscious reflection, of prayer, almsgiving and fasting. Fasting used to be pretty severe. According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, “During the early centuries the observance of the fast was very strict. Only one meal a day, taken towards evening, was allowed, and flesh-meat and fish, and in most places also eggs, milk and dairy products, were absolutely forbidden.”
Thankfully, now Lent is generally observed as a time of restraint from excess, by almsgiving, and by devoting more than the usual time to religious exercises such as prayer.
Here at St Mark’s some of the things we will be offering during Lent will be the opportunity to join together for Night prayer via Zoom 9pm Monday to Friday, as well as “Lenten study groups” both at 11am on Wednesdays and Sundays at 5:30 pm. Please note there is a Special General Meeting happening next week after the 10am service.
God Bless you
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From the Vicar
