Lent is one of the “seasons” (time-periods) of the Christian Year. It prepares us for our fifty-days’ celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection, Easter Season. 

Lent’s origin and purpose is expressed in the Invitation to the Observance of Lent which the Priest addresses to the People on Ash Wednesday:

Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism. It was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Thereby, the whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.

The Book of Common Prayer (1979), pages 264-265

We’re always looking for creative ways to teach our children to know Jesus! Our friends at Sojourn Community Church have posted this article. I couldn’t have said it better myself:

http://sojournkids.com/2011/07/watts-wednesday-advantages-of-teaching-children-through-song/

Joy to the World, the Lord has Come!  Let Earth Receive Her King!

This has got to be one of my favorite hymns of all time.  It is hard to sing this song frowning. Try it!  Pretty unnatural, right! Joy to the World! We can look back and celebrate the Lord’s coming.  But most people at the time had no idea “the Lord WAS coming.”

Besides Joseph, Mary, Zachariah, Elizabeth, John the Baptist (in the womb), and a few others, most were not getting ready for Jesus. They got ready for the census, got ready for planting, got ready for new cattle and lambs but not for JESUS the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS.

 As I said, we have the opportunity to celebrate the coming of Jesus our King, and Advent is about getting ready for the KING. Time to get out the party lights and spruce up our homes– the King is coming!  We put on our best look, our best face!  After all, it is the King!

If you were going to have Martha Stewart to dinner, (I know that is a stretch), you would be concerned about decorations, menu, and how well the food is presented and tastes. If you were going to have Flozell Adams to dinner, #76 for the Cowboys, 6′ 7″ and 340 lbs., you might want to put on an extra roast.

The point is that we prepare differently, depending on the guest. Our King is coming!!  How do we prepare for the King? When asked the question about preparation by Martha, sister of Mary, Jesus responded that very little was needed, and that Mary was doing it.  Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet, taking in every thing he was doing and saying.  She was opening her heart to Jesus: Teacher, Lord, and King!

As the song says, “let every heart prepare him room.”  We are to prepare our hearts for Him. It won’t be our electrical presentation, our culinary expertise, our wrapping paper or the number of gifts given away that will impress the King!  It will be your heart!  Take time to sit at His feet, take in His words, open your hearts, and prepare Him room!

And listen for Heaven and nature’s song!!! Have a blessed Christmas!!!!

fr. john