St John UCC
Tamaqua, PA
Pastor's Journal
St John UCC
Tamaqua, PA
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We will enter the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday which will be observed February 17th this year. The writings of the early Church leaders around 175 A.D. already make mention of the season that preceded Easter and they say that even then the practice had been observed from the very beginning of the Church. By the time of these writings the period of reflection before Easter lasted one day or in some places 40 hours.
By the year 325 Christianity was the accepted religion of the Roman Empire. That meant that there were a lot of people joining the Church who knew nothing about the faith. Easter became the time when new members were baptized, so the time before Easter was the time when people got ready for Easter and the new life that baptism represented.
During the middle ages all of Europe was Christian with the exception of both the Jews and Muslems who had a strong community in Spain. During this time, Lent lost much of its baptism and new life emphasis and turned instead toward focusing on the need for repentance and a reflection upon what action people had done that led Jesus to die on the cross.
The first liturgy we have for Ash Wednesday dates to 960. Before that ashes and the sign of the cross were placed on the head of persons who had committed a serious spiritual offence and had gone to their bishop or priest for forgiveness. The person was often asked to do a penance--that is do something to make up for the sin they had committed. Ashes and the mark of the cross would often be used during this time to either identify the person as one who was working through a penance or as a sign that they had completed it and were now once more a part of the Christian community.
We can see that for much of Christian history Lent has been set aside as a preparation for the cross of Christ and for Easter. For too long it seems, the emphasis has been on repentance and the cross and not on the new life of baptism and Easter. Both themes are related, because often times repentance and change are necessary before a new life can begin. I however, find it more pleasing to contemplate the wonder of the new life and baptism I have been given in Christ.
The wonder of the Cross and of Easter is that Christ decided to give us a new life. Lent isn't only a time for us to reflect upon how we have fallen short of God's expectation of us. It is also a time when we ask, "What can I do now, and what changes do I have to make in my life to get me ready for the new life of Easter."
"Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." These are the words spoken on Ash Wednesday. We are human and mortal. Remember also that we have been baptized and Easter is coming. Reflect on the promise of Paul given to us through baptism and Easter. Get ready for a whole new life.
"Therefore, If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." (2 Corihthians 5:17)
Pastor Kevin
By the year 325 Christianity was the accepted religion of the Roman Empire. That meant that there were a lot of people joining the Church who knew nothing about the faith. Easter became the time when new members were baptized, so the time before Easter was the time when people got ready for Easter and the new life that baptism represented.
During the middle ages all of Europe was Christian with the exception of both the Jews and Muslems who had a strong community in Spain. During this time, Lent lost much of its baptism and new life emphasis and turned instead toward focusing on the need for repentance and a reflection upon what action people had done that led Jesus to die on the cross.
The first liturgy we have for Ash Wednesday dates to 960. Before that ashes and the sign of the cross were placed on the head of persons who had committed a serious spiritual offence and had gone to their bishop or priest for forgiveness. The person was often asked to do a penance--that is do something to make up for the sin they had committed. Ashes and the mark of the cross would often be used during this time to either identify the person as one who was working through a penance or as a sign that they had completed it and were now once more a part of the Christian community.
We can see that for much of Christian history Lent has been set aside as a preparation for the cross of Christ and for Easter. For too long it seems, the emphasis has been on repentance and the cross and not on the new life of baptism and Easter. Both themes are related, because often times repentance and change are necessary before a new life can begin. I however, find it more pleasing to contemplate the wonder of the new life and baptism I have been given in Christ.
The wonder of the Cross and of Easter is that Christ decided to give us a new life. Lent isn't only a time for us to reflect upon how we have fallen short of God's expectation of us. It is also a time when we ask, "What can I do now, and what changes do I have to make in my life to get me ready for the new life of Easter."
"Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." These are the words spoken on Ash Wednesday. We are human and mortal. Remember also that we have been baptized and Easter is coming. Reflect on the promise of Paul given to us through baptism and Easter. Get ready for a whole new life.
"Therefore, If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." (2 Corihthians 5:17)
Pastor Kevin
"A Time of Reflection"
