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The Rectory

Myddle

Tel: 01939 291801

Dear Friends,

 

At the time of writing we are still in the grip of ice and snow – one of the hardest winters for a long time, and I know it has left quite a few people bruised from falls and longing for some better weather! Everything grinds to a halt, the things we take for granted and do without thinking become an effort, or require twice as much time to do, and it all can get very negative and frustrating.

 

Lent, which begins this month, is a time of taking stock – of looking at how we live our lives, how we do things and what is important to us. Just as the winter conditions have made us think carefully about where and when we travel, how we cope, what needs to be done and what can wait, so Lent is meant as a time of self-imposed ‘hardship’ to make us think. The tradition of fasting in Lent is not about giving up chocolates or sweets, but more about a change of attitude. ‘Fasting’ means to begin consciously thinking about what and how we eat, how we spend our time, our money, what priority we give to God, to each other, to ourselves – and then changing our lives to more fully reflect God’s ideal for us.

 

Beneath the snow, and where the ice is beginning to thaw, there are already signs of buds swelling on bushes and soon bulbs will begin to push through – in the harshness of winter the preparations for Spring are beginning. Lent helps us to prepare for the joy of Easter – a celebration of the new life that God offers us through Jesus. So join us during the next few weeks in reflecting on where God is in our lives, and how we can more effectively live as He intends – and discover that through Jesus the ‘winter’ of our difficult times can be changed by the warmth of His love.

 

Yours in Christ,

                                 Peter