Green Lane
Shirley
Solihull
West Midlands
B90 1AA
Heartbeat 2010 Feb 21
Why bother with Lent?
Increasingly in this country the Christian significance of Christmas and Easter is either unknown or has been lost.
Of course we can have our Christmas and Easter services and perhaps invite folks along to join us. Too often the times of preparation for these services can be a bit like putting on a show or a drama. We can be so conscious that it is a time of outreach that the programme is so carefully planned and prepared for those who may come.
As Christians we are called to make disciples, and the local church should be the main place where that happens. I stated at the beginning of the year that my job was to help each of us grow and develop as Christians during 2010. (Yes I know I keep referring to it but that's only because I'm not going to forget it! It's so important).
Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, as Advent is for Christmas. Is either Lent or Advent in the Bible? No - but what is, is times of preparation. Special times of the year or events were always marked by times of preparation. None of this turn-up-on-the day mentality. The focus was on preparing myself to meet with God.
So let's use this preparation time and our Lent book 'Giving it up' to focus on God. Let's prepare ourselves for Him, rather than build everything up just for a special Sunday service on Easter Day.
