Lent, Transition and Community

 Lent is about transition!

Lent is the time we move through the life and ministry of our Lord to his crucifixion and his resurrection. It is a time when we focus inwardly, paying special attention to our relationship to God and enhancing that relationship with our own disciplines. It can be a meaningful time in our own lives, mirroring the journey of Christ through our own spiritual journey. 

Lent is about community! 

Individual examination is always contextual. We must have some reference point by which we calibrate our individual sense of being and relationship to God. As Christians, we always seek to see ourselves in the context of God as shown to us in Christ Jesus.  However, the meaning of our experience of God is best seen and understood in community.

In our own community at St. Elizabeth’s, we have had some important experiences which have helped to prepare us for this communal Lenten journey. Earlier, we explored with Alice Mann the issues important to a faith community in size transition. More recently, we have explored with Marcus Borg the foundation blocks of a relevant faith for today as a Christian community. As a parish, we have prepared ourselves well for this Lent.  

Lent is about individuals in community!

Let us now use these forty days to explore both our individual journeys and the positive role each of us can play in the growth of St. Elizabeth’s as a faith community. May we each explore how St. Elizabeth’s can best support us, as individuals, as we continue in our journey of faith. How can this community facilitate a more meaningful relationship to God for each of us? May we also each explore how we, as individuals, can support our community as it attempts to meet the needs of all parishioners. Each and every one of us is equally important to our Lord, and each and every one of us is equally important in the life of St. Elizabeth’s.

 An exciting life of faith in community is ours to claim!

 Dick Brown,

Interim Rector