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I wonder how many folk do not look forward to Lent. Words like ‘sacrifice,’ ‘discipline,’ and ‘self-denial’ are often used in ways that suggest Lent is something to be endured, rather than a time of grace and spiritual growth. As we are now about half way through our Lenten journey I invite us to continue to dig deep, and wonder to ourselves if we’ve ever thought of Lent as a yearly second chance?

Each year our liturgy offers us six weeks to take a long, loving look at our lives to see if our values and priorities are in line with God and Creation. Since we may have found that we have wandered from God’s path, Lent becomes that second chance, or do-over, to return to God with our whole heart.

As a fairly new Incumbent, and as someone who has made some ‘newbie’ errors in the parish I serve, I have spent time during Lent reflecting on the wonderful gift of God’s grace and second chances. A kind word and some gentle affirmation can go a long way when I’ve been a bit down on myself, especially if I didn’t get something quite right. Indeed, grace and second chances offer us a delightful liberation from the burdens of anxiety, thus freeing us up to step deeper into the mysteries of Lent.

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, God's mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

                                                           Lamentations 3:21-23

Worship And Prayer
Observing Lent