Anglican Communion News Service

The independent weekly, the Church Times, has published a Lent series by Jane Williams for 2004. The new series of study and reflection guides are designed for individual and group use during Lent. The series, called “God Problems”, deals with "obstacles Christians face in deepening their faith and commitment".

In the six-guide series Mrs Williams, teacher, lecturer, author and wife of the Most Revd Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, tackles some of the major questions that cause difficulties for believers and non-believers alike. Published weekly from 20 February, the introduction “Do we really trust God?” appears on the newspaper's web site.

The guides’ other titles will be “How can God allow innocent suffering?”, “How can Jesus be the only way to God?”, “What’s the point of the Church?”, “Why are Christians so obsessed with Sex?”, “Is God our Security?”, and “Why do we have to do what we’re told?”

The series, published by the Church Times in one booklet, concludes with “Do we really want God’s vision of us?”

ACNS editor Jim Rosenthal said today, "The introduction alone offers the faithful a chance to face God in a new and honest way this coming Lent. It is just what I need at this time in my life." Anglicans traditionally find themselves attending extra services, taking part in study and prayer groups and making use of devotional services like the Stations of the Cross. Two Morehouse/Continuum books provide excellent resources for this devotion, one by Canon John Peterson of the Anglican Communion, A Walk in Jerusalem and the other by Katrina Whitely, Walking the Way of Sorrows.

"Lent is a popular season for Anglicans," Canon Rosenthal added. The Archbishop of Canterbury commissions an official Lent book each year. This year's book is by Fr Stephen Cottrell, soon to be Bishop of Reading. Entitled I Thirst, the book is set out for easy use by groups for Lent courses.

"Many church-goers find a Lenten discipline helpful and indeed many prayer books of the Communion call for abstinence and fasting such as the traditional Friday observance," Canon Rosenthal said.

The first day of Lent finds services of the imposition of ashes taking place in many churches. The Diocese of London takes Ash Wednesday very seriously. St Paul's Cathedral opens its doors and holds a day-long series of services, with the Bishop and all his suffragan bishops leading devotions and giving addresses beginning with a Eucharist at 8 a.m. and a final Sung Eucharist at 5 p.m.

Other churches also observe Lent to the full. The extraordinary web site of the King of Peace Episcopal Church in Georgia USA offers this definition of Lent and a plethora of aids for worship and devotion on-line:

“What is Lent? Lent is a season of preparation leading up to Easter. It is the forty days plus the six Sundays before Easter. For centuries, it has been observed as a special time of self-examination and penitence. Lent is a time for concentration on fundamental values and priorities, and is not a time for self-punishment.


If you have found yourself away from church and wondered about another try, Lent is the perfect time. For centuries, Lent has offered a chance to try the fellowship of the church one more time. In fact, Lent developed as a way to receive people back into church. If you are questioning your own faith and wondering what you believe, this could be the perfect time to come back to church.


Throughout Lent, the worship services of the church take on a simpler tone, appropriate to this season. Crosses showing the risen Christ are veiled. The word ‘Alleluia’ is not used in the words of the liturgy or hymns. These practices help the worshipping community mark this season of renewal as a special time in the church year.”

Links:

http://www.kingofpeace.org/

http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/

http://www.stpauls.co.uk/