FROM THE METHODIST MINISTER

Dear Friends,

"Giving things up" would, I suppose, be, the answer that most of us would give, if we were asked to describe the meaning of Lent. Indeed, traditionally, it has been a time for self-discipline and self-examination, and there is a lot to be said for reserving a particular time of the year to look at ourselves in this way. Without the observance of Lent, most of us would tend either to be too busily concerned with ourselves and the condition of our own souls for too much of the time, or else we would go to the other extreme, and never discipline ourselves or think about our own spiritual condition.

Lenten discipline is intended to be a reflection of the discipline our Lord Himself exercised as He set out on the Way of the Cross. But too often we have misunderstood what it was that made up His discipline. Christ's self-imposed discipline was not a Spartan-like regime, cutting out all the pleasures and indulgences of life. On the contrary, whilst on the way to the Cross, Jesus still went to a marriage feast, ate and drank with his disciples, and with "winebibbers and sinners". No, the discipline, of Jesus was that of accepting that the Way He must go was the Way of the Cross, the way of apparent defeat and degradation, rather than the easier ways that another man might have chosen to carve out a kingdom in the world. It was not "giving things up", but taking a task upon Himself, and accepting the will of the Father in trust and obedience, that characterised the ministry of Jesus that led Him to the Cross. So, as Easter approaches for us, and as we try to travel some part of the Way of the Cross through Lent, may it be true of our discipleship that it is more an acceptance of a task and obedience to the will of Christ, in trust, than just a matter of "not doing" certain things, or "giving up" this, that, or the other thing.

Yours sincerely,

DENIS GARDINER.

YOUR PRAYERS are specially asked for:

  1. Clergy and ordination candidates in Embertide, 27th Fehruary to 6th March, especially John David Green, who is to made deacon in St. Peter's, Rochester (where he is also to serve) on 6th March, at 10.15 a.m.
  2. Our Lent Discussion Group on Wednesday evenings.