Knowlton Circle Benefice
The Ministry Team
Reverend Angus Mayhew, Rector
Reverend Jan Brown
revjrbrown@kcb.org.uk
Indulge your Lent
Please have a fabulous, rich Lent.
I love a food programme especially if I’m also eating something delicious whilst watching it. But it can never compare to the real thing. Sitting and waiting for some delicious, absurdly expensive dish to be conveyed from a distant kitchen to your table is bliss. The smells and noises of food seriously made, are irresistible. The increasing pangs of hunger after ordering and the self-marinating in their recommended wine, is a joyful journey of expectancy. We don’t go to these places often but when we do, goodness it is fun to indulge in it. And there are questions and discussions about what is on the plate and in the glass, of why it works so well and of future meals planned. As the English writer in Provence, Peter Mayle wrote of choosing good food: ‘why not make a pleasure out of a daily necessity.’
We are given this wonderful season of Lent to purposely and seriously spend time indulging in our relationship with our loving God. As we spend time waiting for that banquet of Easter and God’s promises to us, during our Lent we can self-marinate ourselves in the Grace of God by simply taking time to rest with him. There will be questions and discussions and our heart will grow.
A sparse Lent, choosing carefully to avoid certain things for a season and basking in the benefits of that regime is I think, also an indulgence. If it works for you to give up chocolate for Lent as a means to spend time with the loving creator – then you should do that. If it is also a good time of year to try a new diet then that’s grand. But if a difficult keep fit programme is trying your patience, please don’t blame that on the desire of God to be close to us. A tough Lent is as heretical to me as the ghastly insurance company get out: ‘an act of God.’
So how will you plan your Lent? Carve time in your diary, make space in your life and check out the events, services and discussions taking place this Lent in the Benefice as advertised here and in the Quiver. We have meditation services, Lent pilgrimage walks, Lent talks and home groups, we have Lent lunches and gentle services of prayer throughout the season. Come and talk and meet and indulge in that outrageous closeness of our loving God.
Roll up, roll up!
Are you thinking about confirmation and taking your spirituality further? We will be having confirmations this year and confirmation meetings and discussions one to one and in groups. Please contact me if you’d like more information: revangusmayhew@gmail.com
God bless, Angus