“For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation…truly, my hope is in him.” (from ps 62)
I have a question for you to consider as we approach and enter into the Lenten season. The question is this: Do you wait upon God? Do you? I struggle with this concept. Often times I find myself quite too busy to sit down and wait…to sit down and be silent. Perhaps you are blessed and this is not a struggle for you, but it is for me…and I believe for many others too.
To respond to this dilemma, I want to quote a great mystic theologian. Well, actually not a mystic theologian at all, just Woody Allen who said “90% of life is just showing up”. That may sound irreverent at first glance, but indulge me for a moment.
It isn’t easy you know, just showing up. When I come to prayer each morning, is it important that I say all the right things, or make all the right gestures? I’m not so sure, I think what is really important is that I come to morning prayer. God delights in spending time with us…time that we have set aside, purposed for one reason, and one reason only, and that reason is to talk to our Father. And so, it really is most important that I show up. For God alone my soul in silence waits
While stationed in Germany I had a wonderful chaplain friend who, like me, was an Episcopal priest. We were reflecting on the topic of prayer, and my friend in all seriousness stated that he began each day by having his coffee with the Lord during Morning Prayer. You see, he set that time aside, showed up each morning with his coffee to pray the morning office and talk with our Father. For God alone my soul in silence waits
My encouragement to you this Lenten season is to resolve yourself to meet God each day. Set aside a time each day and wait for God. Select a time and place where there is silence, and you can hear the still small whisper that is the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Just show up! For God alone my soul in silence waits
Speaking of showing up. To better help each of us regain our focus on Jesus and observe a Holy Lent, I encourage everyone to make it a priority to participate in our Lenten program this year. Here are the important dates and times:
On Ash Wednesday, 17 Feb, Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes will take place at 7:00am, 12:00 noon and 6:30pm.
On each Wednesday evening in Lent (excluding Ash Wednesday), we will gather for dinner in the parish hall at 5:30pm. Holy Communion and Anointing for Healing will be offered in the church at 6:30pm. At 7:15pm Fr Eric will lead our Lenten study in the Gospel of St John
Thursday mornings in Lent, Holy Communion will be offered at 7am followed by breakfast in the parish hall. Thursday noon-time organ recitals will take place in the church.
“For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation…truly, my hope is in him.”
Praying you have a Holy Lent,
Fr Eric
