Musings From the Manse - February 2010
Last Autumn my diary was over-full and I was unable to get to any of the annual Radical Lectures at Carrs Lane. However at Christmas I received a CD of the lecture given there in October by Jim Cotter who, like myself, was Sheffield born and bred.
On listening to the CD, I was moved to go to the several Jim Cotter books sitting on my study shelves. And I came across a beautiful poetic piece of his writing on Lent:
"Let us embrace the way of the crucified Christ, fountain of life, source of hope, deliverer from slavery, maker of peace, obedient to death, pioneer of the narrow way, burning flame of love, source of all faithfulness, sanctuary of justice, elder brother, Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, bodily presence of the fullness of God, our life, our death, our resurrection." (Prayer in the Morning - Jim Cotter 1989)
As we move into Lent 2010, could there be a clearer picture of a true Christian disciple straining to follow this "way of the crucified Christ"?
For me the Lenten journey has always been one that is nourished and nurtured, urged and inspired by the devotional material, study group opportunities and traditional liturgical times of worship and ritual which the season throws up. Such events and resources provide the feeding which enables spiritual reflection and renewal to take place.
So as I "muse" at my desk I am encouraged to share with you some resources and events which have been sent to me as invitations for the intake of spiritual food for the Lenten journey.
The Favourable Time; daily reflections for Lent by Christian Aid & Cafod
Pub: Darton, Longman & Todd £5.95 (can be ordered online)
Lent for Everyone by Tom Wright £6.99 Available from Amazon or Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith St, London SW1P 3BN (Telephone: 0207 799 4064)
Christian Aid "Count Your Blessings" sheets avilable from SOMC - Crush Hall.
Lent Circuit evenings at Hay Green church in Cob Lane between 7 and 8.45pm on Thursdays 18 February and 25 March; come and go as you please.
Ecumenical Lent groups meeting locally for five weeks from the week beginning 22 February. Sign up at Selly Oak Methodist Church.
I wish you a blessed and spiritually satisfying Lent
Doreen C Hare