Breaking Bread Breaking Bread Elsewhere in this issue of Shamrock we are happy to present a look back at our doings in Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. In addition to a joyful Christmas Eve service, we reached into our community with in-kind collections for the holidays, and for good measure held a successful annual meeting to get the Vestry off to a good start in the new year.
I’d like to use the rest of my article to look ahead, since the season of Lent is coming soon. Ash Wednesday (when Lent begins) is on the late side this year, March 5. Easter Day is also on the late side, falling on April 20. The weeks in-between are when the church calls for special focus on our spiritual lives, with the three traditional practices of prayer, charitable giving, and self-control. To some these practices sound dreary, but I don’t see it that way. Deepening discipleship is a good thing. It is what Jesus calls us to do. I believe that the parish should help things along by providing a little structure.
Last year we had a lovely prayer focus, using the traditional form called, lectio divina, or holy reading. Ann LePage led us in this on Sunday mornings. I’ve asked the Epiphany book group for help in figuring out what to do this Lent, by way of a spiritual program. I can’t yet say what form it will take, but stay tuned. I can promise that St Patrick’s will do something to support and encourage our personal prayer lives.
It is becoming ever more clear to me that the disciplines of charitable giving and self-control work best if they work together. It’s fine to “give something up for Lent.” For instance, maybe someone decides not to eat any donuts for forty days. But it would be even better if the money saved on donuts is shared with those in need. This is why we will once again provide opportunities to support groups that do good works, both at home and abroad.
Here are the groups the vestry has agreed to support with special Lenten collections in 2025: the ACES after-school program; the Bigfork Food Bank; Valley Neighbors refugee ministry; the Warming Center homeless ministry; the Episcopal hospital in Gaza City. All of these reach out to the kinds of people Jesus did, and I am happy to offer them for your support.
As for Sunday worship, please note we will once again use the traditional language of Rite I for Holy Eucharist. This language is unfamiliar to some, but for others it is what they grew up with and enjoy hearing again. The change gives an interesting contrast to what are used to. We have to think a little and stay alert to find our way through the prayers. Thinking a little and staying alert are good things in their own right, in my view.
Last but not least, our annual festival in honor of Patrick will be Sunday, March 16. We suspend Lent for a day to honor our patron saint, and remind ourselves of his story. Plan to be on hand for a little merriment as we make our way (solemnly for the most part) to the glories of Easter Day.
