Dear Ones of St. Columba's,

Welcome to the season of Lent - a time that historically was set aside for the preparation of people for baptism, and for the disciplines of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. As we progress through this time of walking with Jesus toward the cross, and Easter, I want to spend time in this space with you reflecting on each of these aspects of Lenten discipline and what they can mean for us. But first I want to make sure we all understand that the season of Lent is a gift to us. 

That's right - a season of fasting and penitence is a gift. Lent is an invitation to focus on our faith, and on our relationship with God in Jesus Christ. And there are multiple ways to accept this gift.

If you have ever heard me talk about Lent, you have probably heard me say that I prefer disciplines of engagement rather than disengagement, or that I like to take things on during Lent instead of giving things up. To some degree this is just semantics - last year I decided to focus on water during the desert time of Lent, and so I chose water as my only beverage during that season. You could have said I gave up coffee, juice, wine, etc. My preference was to say I was choosing one thing, rather than giving up other things. Water is a gift, not a punishment, and by only drinking water I was given many opportunities to reflect on that gift. 

This year my Lenten focus is on prayer, specifically the discipline of solitude. In various ways I am exploring and seeking experiences of being alone with God and present to my world. My practice will involve taking on new prayer practices, as well as choosing solitude in some times when I might otherwise choose something else (scrolling through social media, for example). 

I invite you, dear ones, on behalf of the Church, to accept the gift of a Holy Lent. This might mean trying something new - a new way to pray, to worship, to encourage yourself to pay attention to God's presence in your life. It might mean learning something new - attending Community Formation on Wednesday nights here or seeking out reading material that will deepen your practice of Christian faith. It might mean doing the work of finding peace in a part of your life that is challenging for you. Whatever it means, please remember that we follow the way of Jesus together, and while you are the only person who can discern how you are called to practice Lent this year, you never walk this way alone. We walk the way together.

With care and gratitude,

Alissa