Thought for the Week - 21/2/2021

Dear Friends, 

Following the snow of the last few weeks there are once again some signs that Spring is just around the corner. Spring is a wonderful time of year with the emphasis on new life and new beginning, but it is not officially due to start on 20th March, so we’ve a little time to wait. But Spring also connects the season in the church calendar which have just entered – Lent. The name Lent is a Western name, from Germanic descent, given to the season which is known more widely around the world by its Latin name – Quadragesima, or the ‘fortieth day’. It marks the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, not including Sundays, which makes up this special season which Christians follow. The word Lent originally meant simply ‘spring’, but it was in the late middle ages that it took on its meaning of the Christian festival leading up to Easter. One of the focuses of the season of Lent is the journeying with Jesus to the cross and then the empty tomb. Originally this period in the Church calendar would be a time of preparation for those who were to be baptised at Eastertime. Lent presents the promise of new life; of resurrection and hope. It is the perfect time to reflect on the journey that Jesus took towards Jerusalem and ultimately to Calvary. And so as we set out upon this journey with Jesus, I am reminded of a children’s hymn which I learned at school: ‘The journey of life may be easy, may be hard, there’ll be dangers on the way; with Christ at my side I’ll do battle as I ride ‘gainst the foe that would lead me astray. Will you ride, ride, ride with the King of kings, will you follow my leader true; will you shout hosanna to the lowly Son of God, who died for me and you?  

Grace and peace,

Neil

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