Lenten Devotional

    The word lent comes from a twelfth century Old English word meaning spring.  Since our March lion shows no signs of turning to a spring lamb, it could be difficult to consider lent to mean spring this year, but there is another meaning, dating from the fourteenth century, referring to the forty days before Easter.   Even then the term is confusing because the forty days does not include Sundays.

     What is not confusing, is the devotional series held at 9:00 am weekday mornings in the sanctuary at SPPC.  The devotional time is very informal, two or three or six or eight or ten people gather to read from the Gospel of Matthew and the commentary in "The Story of the Cross" by Rev. Dr. Cecil Kirk.
      Lent has been less celebrated in the reformed and evangelical churches than in the "high" churches in Canada, but there is a growing observance of the season among protestants, and rightly so.  The death and resurrection of Jesus lies at the very heart of our faith.  What better way to prepare for Easter than by setting aside forty days for prayer, reflection, study, or other spiritual discipline?

      In checking the etymology of lent, I stumbled upon the expression lenten-faced, meaning lean and dismal.  The reference was dated in the sixteenth century and no doubt refers to a time woshippers were expected to be sober, sombre, and scowling, particularly during the time of lent.   Then is not now.  The folk who gather for a time of devotion at SPPC follow the account of Jesus' arrest, trial and crucifixion with sorrow and gratitude, not with frowns and scolding.
       Even the full title of Dr. Kirk's study, "A Series of Daily bible Readings for Lent and Easter," reminds us that we know the rest of the story.  Lent is a period of preparation, not an end in itself.  Our season of darkness ends at the cross, then bursts into light with the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. 
      We follow Christ to the cross, but we also follow the women to the tomb and find the stone is rolled away, we hear the angel proclaim that Jesus is risen and we are with them when they meet the risen Lord.  With the disciples we receive the great commission to "Go and make disciples of all nations," and the reassurance that "lo, I am with you always, even unto the ends of the earth."

For other Holy Week and Easter services check the church calendar