Rector's Lent 2024 Pew letter

 
Dear Church Member,
 
We have just marked Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the 40 days of Lent.  For reasons unknown to us, the length of 40 – whether 40 days or 40 years – has been significant throughout biblical history: 

• The great flood lasted 40 days.
• Moses was on the mountain with God for 40 days before he brought down the Ten Commandments.
• The establishment of the Kingdom of Israel was founded on its first three kings – Saul, David and Solomon – and each ruled for exactly 40 years.
• The prophet Elijah fasted for 40 days.
• Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness for 40 days.
• Jesus walked the earth for 40 days following His resurrection before returning to heaven. 

The common thread tying all of these together is that each period of 40 days or years was associated with something new—a new development in the history of God’s activity or new beginnings. In other words, God led people into various seasons of “40” – usually days, but sometimes years – for the purpose of inaugurating a new era or a new season in their life.  Forty days to turn things around. Forty days to change. Forty days to have one chapter of life end and another begin.
 
In the Bible, every new chapter of God’s work was marked, at the onset, by some period of time related to 40:

• The cleansing of evil from the world through the flood
• The journey of the people of Israel out of bondage and into the Promised Land
• The beginning of the public ministry of Jesus
• The birth of the Church 

It’s a fascinating thing to explore.  In each chapter of God breaking out anew – of seeing life change raging through a person, a community, a nation or a world – you find that the number 40 has always been at its heart.  This is why throughout Christian history, 40 days has taken on a special significance, particularly through the season of Lent.
 
In Christian history and tradition, Lent is a period in the Spring set aside for fasting in some way (giving up something for spiritual reasons) in preparation for Easter and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.  Traditionally, it starts on Ash Wednesday and its purpose has always been clear: to get spiritually ready. To use the time for life change by taking 40 days to turn away from something or turn towards something that will allow your life to honour God more deeply and to live the life you’ve been called to live.
 
In other words, take 40 days and use it for your resurrection.
 
On Ash Wednesday 100 of us worshipped at our two services where we came to reflect and receive the mark of the cross in ashes on our foreheads, reminded that “You are dust, and to dust you shall return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.”
 
Have you ever taken 40 days to fast from something, to turn toward something, or to pray about something you know is critical to who you are and who you are becoming? Have you ever taken 40 days to become a different person, to set a new path, to chart a new course? Forty days to end a bad habit or to start a good habit?

If you spend some time digging into studies of human behaviour, you’ll find that 40-day periods have begun to surface all over the place. It’s as if human behaviour – or at least our understanding of it – has finally caught up with the Bible in terms of the studies now being done.  Research found if you want to change something in your life – to end a habit or start a new one 40 days is how long it takes.
 
It could be 40 days without eating carbs. Forty days away from social media. Forty days without alcohol. But it’s not just about going without something. It can be about something that you add to your life. Forty days with exercise. Forty days of reading. Forty days with prayer. Forty days of trusting God more.
 
No matter what it is, if you want to experience life change – real life change – give it 40 days – and at the end of the journey we’ll arrive at the Cross and the empty grave – our source of eternal life.
 
To help us journey through Lent you can download the free ‘Watch and Pray’ app (via our website) or pick-up a booklet from the back of church (suggested £2.50 donation).
 
In other encouraging news:
 

• The Marriage Course has finished and was a huge success.
• Alpha is going very well with the Holy Spirit day scheduled for 16th March.
• ‘Lighthouse’ – the after-school church ministry – re-starts on Wednesday 6th March as our new monthly messy church.  If you can help do let Lucia know.
• Our Youth and student ministries continue to grow under Sam’s leadership.
• The Centre is fully booked with many activities that make a real difference to so many people.
• Attendance is up across all services.
• We have appointed Mrs Divya Jacob as Jan’s successor – please pray for her and Jan as they conduct the handover of this crucial role in the 2 weeks before Easter.
• The kitchen and North Room have been redecorated and huge cracks filled. 

Please do sign-up to come on the Parish Weekend Away 27th – 29th September and just pay what you can afford towards the ticket price.  You can book via the website under What’s On.
 
Having recently had our Vision and Stewardship Sundays, now is the perfect time to pick-up a giving form and to either start giving or to increase your giving in line with inflation.  If we all get behind this we can ‘deal’ with our £23k planned deficit!
 
We will be holding a Seder Meal on Maundy Thursday – save the date.
 
Prayer and Praise will take place as usual on Monday 4th March at 7.30pm.
 
Finally:   Please pray for all the above challenges and events and for many to hear the gospel over Easter and to respond.
 
I hope (if a parent) you have found some ‘rest’ over half-term and that Lent will be a time of spiritual refreshment for all,
 
with every blessing,

Will