ALLELUIA FOR LENT!
March is always a very changeable month. We are on the verge of Spring, but it can still be very cold. It is a month which is said to be beset with very windy days. We have seen quite a few storms lately.
Wind, though, is an essential element; it is needed for growth. We are reminded of this in the words from Song of Songs Ch 4 v16: “Awake north wind, and come south wind! Blow on my garden, that its fragrance may spread abroad.”
What a lovely image this gives us. It is not only the fragrance of the garden we want to spread abroad, but also the fragrance of God’s message of love. We have plenty of opportunities for this as we now enter the season of Lent and head rapidly towards Easter.
Lent is a time of reflection and self-examination. It is a sombre time in the church season. The altar cloths are purple, and all flowers are removed from inside of church.
In some churches the word “Alleluia” is banned during Lent. Some churches apparently begin Lent by writing the word Alleluia on a piece of paper and then symbolically burying it in the church grounds. It is then dug up on Easter morning. Alleluia means “praise God”. I am not sure why we shouldn’t praise God every day, whatever the liturgical season, but I recognise people have different views and traditions.
Although we will not be burying the word Alleluia here at St John’s church, there are many opportunities in the Lenten season where we can gather to reflect, meditate and pray together. Do come along to the services and events and bring someone with you, maybe a relative, a friend or a neighbour.
Be like the winds and spread the fragrance of God to someone you know. Alleluia!
Best wishes and blessings,
Reverend Debra