A few weeks ago, a simple survey was handed out during worship inviting your input to this year’s Lenten theme. Each year, we have observed the season of Lent as a special time to focus on spiritual practice – things we can do with intention and regularity to deepen and strengthen our relationship to God. My first year here, we explored prayer, for example, and last year, discernment. We integrated the theme into both our time of worship as well as Sundays of Uniting Prayer (SOUP), a special time following worship each Sunday. I have heard from many people how meaningful this season is and how much they have appreciated this time of going deep with a spiritual practice. On that recent survey, two possibilities were provided: Forgiveness and Sabbath. In addition, there was space for you to suggest a new possibility. Great thanks to each who responded. It was through your input, that Forgiveness was designated as this year’s theme.
Why forgiveness? In the introduction to her Lenten study, Marjorie Thompson points to the title of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s book titled, “No Future Without Forgiveness.” She invites us to consider that, truly, “without forgiveness there is no future worthy of human life and community as God surely intended them to be in the originating vision of Creation.” Put positively, forgiveness is a key and essential ingredient to life-giving, meaningful, God-filled relationships. We need forgiveness in order to survive as friends, spouses, family, co-workers, and Christian community. In fact, Thompson reminds us that “[t]here is no Christianity without forgiveness.” She goes on to say, “It is impossible to conceive of any expression of Christian discipleship that ignores or excludes a virtue so central to the good news.” Not only is forgiveness essential to all of our relationships then, it is indispensable as a practice for us as followers of Jesus. Do you believe that? Has that been your experience?
My guess is that even if we believe in the importance of forgiveness and understand it as a cornerstone to our living of faith, most if not all of us find this spiritual practice incredibly challenging and difficult. It feels different from prayer, for example. While with prayer, we may see it more as a matter of scheduling it in our calendars, forgiveness brings with it complicated feelings, emotions, and thoughts. It carries the weight of anger, hurt, or resentment with it. Moreover, it often involves another person or persons. The practice of it, therefore, feels a little more tricky and definitely more risky. So…are you ready to dive in, or at the very least, dip your toes into the waters? I surely do hope so and assure you that we will walk this journey together.
Here are our themes for the next six weeks:
Mar. 9th – Beginnings (Luke 15:11-32)
Mar. 16th – Self Examination: Prelude to Forgiveness (Psalm 510 and 139)
Mar. 23rd – Honesty: Engaging the Inner Struggle (Matt 5:43-48 and 7:1-6)
Mar. 30th – Repentance: Getting a New Mind (Luke 23:32-43)
Apr. 6th – Forgiving: Embracing Freedom (Matt 18:23-35)
Apr. 13th – Beginning Again: Reconciliation and Restoration (Luke 7:36-47)
My prayer is that this Lenten season, we will encounter the mighty movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we open ourselves to the healing of old wounds, the letting go of past hurts and judgments, and being set free in our relationships, both with those closest to us and with those right here in this faith community.
Peace & Grace, Emily