Lenity's Lent

I haven't had a chance to think much lately about how I am going to observe Lent this year. Past ventures include going sans chocolate, coffee, sugar, fast food, movies, music (for entertainment), or television; fasting every Friday; or adding things such as more acts of service into my life. In chapel this week we were given the opportunity to talk about how we were going to observe Lent, the 40 days before Easter. It is somewhat assumed in this educational community that those studying for ministry will be doing something to reflect on this season. In the past this has been a very meaningful experience for me, but I hadn't decided on what to do yet this year. I considered some kind of special Sabbath observance, until I read this:

What has happened to LENT? Can we be formed as a people willing to suffer if we do not reflect upon the willingness of Jesus to bear our sufferings?....I certainly do not want to advocate an overly morose Lent....But we need Lent! Our forebears were wise to put its forty days into the calendar to keep us mindful of the great sacrifice of Christ and the immense love of the Father, the overwhelming grace-full - and grotesque - suffering of the Trinity. In these postmodern times, sin and failure are almost universally unacknowledged, though everyone experiences or is aware of disillusionment and despair. In response to this anguish, Lent and its fulfillment of the Promise of God's forgiveness are great gifts the Church can offer the world around it.

--Marva Dawn
Morning by Morning: Daily Meditations from the Writings of Marva J. Dawn
(excerpt from A Royal Waste of Time)

Marva Dawn is a person who can relate to those who suffer. She often writes about her physical ailments and how she has learned to know God's grace through her pain. Lent is one of those times in the Church year when I know I have a chance to reflect on the suffering of Jesus as well as the sufferings of people around the world. I want to take this seriously. As someone heavily involved in planning worship services, I cannot afford not to. I admit to not being the best at planning high-energy, jump up and down/wave your hands kinds of services, but people have thanked me before for providing them room to grieve, remember, lament, and reflect on those serious things that "blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday." My seminary experience has taught me how to better relate to those who are mourning for one thing or the other, something for which I am very grateful. Here are a few resources for thinking about Lent with children or churches, if you are so inclined.

As for me, I'm going to begin with this prayer (written by Safiyah Fosua, from the UMC GBoD site) and see where God leads me:

A Corporate Prayer of Confession for Ash Wednesday

(Based on Psalm 51:3)
Spanish Traslation by Julio R. Vargas-Vidal --Oración Comunitaria de Confesión para Miércoles de Cenizas

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
(Psalms 51:3, NRSV)

O, God, when we pause to look back at our lives on this Ash Wednesday, we realize that we have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

We have neglected to do good when it was in our power to do so.

We, like believers of old, have pulled down your altars
and erected idols crafted in our own image.

We have turned our backs on the poor,
choosing instead to criminalize poverty.

We have ignored the cries of the motherless, the fatherless,
the widow and the widower
choosing instead to turn children and the elderly into the new poor.

We have bankrupted the country with our greed and
consumed more than our share of the world's riches

We have not dealt honorably with our enemies or our friends,
and we have feigned a place in the company of the righteous.

Forgive us, O God, for turning sackcloth and ashes into a fashion statement
by pursuing form without substance.

Forgive us, O God, for the times we have neglected to provide our children
and our world an authentic example of Christianity.

As we begin the journey of these 40 days
Wash us, O God and we shall be clean
Cleanse us, O Lord, and we shall be made whole. Amen.

(Silence)

Words of assurance: Hear the Good News.
The LORD, our God, is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (Joel 2:13).
God hears the earnest cries of the repentant and forgives our sins.