|
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Welcome to worship as we celebrate the First Sunday in Lent. Notice the word ‘in’ rather than ‘of’. The Sundays during Lent are not calculated in the 40 days of Lent. They are in every sense Feast Days amidst what is a season of reflection, penitence, fasting and prayer. Would that be true of most of us as we live in this whirlwind of modern life. Like the temptations Jesus faces in today’s gospel of security, power and affection, maybe we face the temptation at times of giving up or at least giving in. “It’s all too hard,” can be a common catch-cry. Lent though perhaps can teach us that what we need to do during our short time-frame amidst the massive expanse of time. We can persevere. If we become too distracted in our daily prayers, don’t give up, keep trying. When we become disillusioned, don’t just give-up but work out how we can be part of the process of change. And yes, it can be very easy to be disillusioned today with all that has surfaced from the past and sometimes how it is being handled still in the present. An important realisation in all of this is that Jesus too face being disillusioned. The Scriptures tell us he faced the temptations that we face, yet without sin (an interesting thought to explore!). Yet even in facing that Jesus persevered until the end. He set out with a purpose of bringing about reconciliation between people and with God. The journey of Lent can join us to Christ and to be a continuing part of the purpose he came and sought to bring about. May we journey well with Christ this week. Fr Ian. (First Sunday in Lent Pew Sheet)
0 Comments
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Welcome to worship as we celebrate this last Sunday before Lent begins.; a commemoration of the Transfiguration. Peter’s response to Jesus being transfigured with Moses and Elijah (great prophets of the even by then distant past) was the desire to make three dwellings for them i.e. to bask and remain in this moment of glory. What follows after this gospel however, is a coming down off the mountain. Immediately then, on the following day Jesus met amongst a crowd and a child in need of healing, an argument about who was the greatest followed amongst the disciples and Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem. Very down to earth staff. This is so much like everyday life. We can have the most amazing experiences on day and then brought back down to a stark reality the next. ‘Such is life.’ This is where having lives grounded in faith (imperfect as it may seem) and prayerfulness come to the fore. One of the first things I did following my sister calling me about my dad’s death (we were still on the way to Armidale) was to pause and pray with my family. To me the promise of transfiguration is that God is not only to be found on the mountain, but also in lowest and roughest places and times of our lives. Christ’s journey to the cross is also a great reminder of this. This week will begin the season of Lent. May this coming time of reflection help us to find those spaces, whether on the mountain-top or down near the gutter to recognise the God who in Christ loves us and is with us. May we journey well with Christ this week. Fr Ian. |
AuthorRev Cannon Ian Howarth is the Rector of the Anglican Parish of St Paul's Kyneton and St John's Malmsbury and is the team leader of the Central Highlands Cluster. Categories
All
Archives
February 2021
|
RSS Feed
©St Paul's Anglican Church Kyneton 2014-21
|
Contact:
Rectory Tel: (03)5422 2500 Parish Tel: (03)5422 1025 howarthian1@gmail.com |
St Paul's Kyneton
26-28 Yaldwyn Street W Kyneton, Victoria 3444 |
St John's Malmsbury
Cameron Street (Opposite Primary School) Malmsbury, Victoria 3446 |
Postal Address
Post Box 887 Kyneton, Victoria 3444 |
St Paul's Anglican Parish Kyneton and St John's Anglican Church Malmsbury are an inclusive place of worship to all who identify as LGBTIQA+ and we celebrate the extraordinary diversity of people's bodies, genders, sexualities and relationships.
Acknowledgement of Country:
We acknowledge the Taungurung and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples; the traditional custodians of this area and honour their Elders—past, present and emerging.
We acknowledge the Taungurung and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples; the traditional custodians of this area and honour their Elders—past, present and emerging.