"Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: The early Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration there should be a forty-day season of spiritual preparation. During this season converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism.
It was also a time when persons who had committed serious sins and had separated themselves from the community of faith were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness and restored to participation in the life of the Church.
In this way the whole congregation was reminded of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the need we all have to renew our faith.
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to observe a holy Lent: by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word.”
Copies of this year’s Lenten Devotional are available at the church and daily entries will be posted on our Facebook page and on this blog.
The devotional is presented in three parts: A scripture lesson (from a different version/translation each day) in which prayer is the subject is offered each day. A quote is next shared which provides the opportunity for reflection on prayer.
Finally, I invite you to join with me in reading the gospel according to Luke during the season of Lent. Reading as a community was a common practice for centuries in the Christian church and a practice that I believe will offer a common experience for us on the journey that leads us to the celebration of Easter. Reading a little bit each day, we’ll read the entire gospel account by Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.
So let us rise up and join the saints on the journey that leads to Easter morning.
Every blessing,
Rev. Dr. Charles Alkula
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