March, for me, is always symbolized by flowers. After what feels like many months of dark winter, deep muddy puddles, and cold fingers, the sight of daffodils, crocuses, and primroses beginning to peek their heads up on grass verges reminds me that spring is on the way. It’s a good sign from the natural world that, although Lent is traditionally a time of penitence in the church’s year, this season doesn’t mean a lack of joy. As St. Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always!”(Philippians 4:4)

The traditional practices of Lent are fasting, prayer and almsgiving. In the modern day, fasting often looks like giving something up, such as chocolate, wine or meat. Almsgiving at St Mary’s is shown by our Lenten charity appeal – this year the money donated will be given to the BH1 project, a local charity that supports homeless people.

Our Lent course this year is based on the film “The Way” which is about the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Lent is like a journey too, in that we persevere through the weeks of fasting in order to reach a destination – a greater understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and a heart that is more open to loving others.

This year, I’m hoping to give up something for Lent that will help me know God in a deeper way and to spend more time in His presence. For me, this will mean spending more time in silence and less time on Instagram. But simplification might look different for you. It could mean decluttering our homes, reducing our screen time, making more conscious choices about our consumption, minimizing distractions, or spending more time in nature. Perhaps it's about simplifying our busy timetables to allow for more quiet reflection. Lent is also an excellent time to focus on serving others and showing our love for God and our neighbours through our actions.

The words "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return," spoken to each person in the congregation as ash is smeared on their forehead on Ash Wednesday, are profoundly counter-cultural. Our culture is uncomfortable with its own mortality, and Ash Wednesday forces us to think about it. But far from finding this news depressing and sinking into nihilism, Christians use the opportunity of Lent to contemplate this mortality and find higher meaning in eternal things. Truth, love, the soul, and the word of God – all of these things will live on forever within the Divine. Lent offers us a chance to refocus our lives on these eternal values, to strengthen our relationship with God, and to prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.

During Lent, there are lots of events put on by St Mary’s church to help you enter into this special season of prayer – from the Lent course on Sunday afternoons, to our quiet day at the Greenhouse Centre on April 8th, from Pancake parties to Palm Sunday processions, we hope to see you at church this month as we dedicate ourselves anew to a life following Jesus with our hearts, words and actions.

With Blessings,

Rev. Lizzie