Sez the Rev:

Jesus warns against us doing all pietistic acts in public:
when you pray, go off by yourself and shut the door – and by the way, stop using all those empty phrases.
When you give alms – do it in secret, don’t even let one hand know what the other is doing.
When you fast – that is to say
when you work to break the chains of injustice,
or to get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
or to free the oppressed,
or when you share your food with the hungry,
or when you invite the homeless poor into your homes,
or when you put clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
or when you are available to your own families –
do it on your on your own time.

These are not things you seek publicity for.
These are not things you should call attention to.
For sure, these things are to be done –
but do it under the radar.
Wash your face and comb your hair.
Let know one suspect.

I think it is clear that we need to pay more attention to these admonitions.
This is essential to the faith that has been passed on to us.
We can choose to ignore it – to our peril.
Or, we can take it to heart and spend these 40 days in Lent to deepen our faith and how it impacts our life – who we are and what we do.

Check it out.

Sez the Rev:

When Jesus addressed the crowd about correct methods of righteousness, everyone knew what he was talking about.

They knew about the three legs on the stool of righteous living.

These days we don’t like to read this passage –
the only time it is brought up in the Lectionary is for Ash Wednesday services.
So for folks that never go to Ash Wednesday services, never have an occasion to hear this in church, unless their pastor is somewhat eclectic in his or her approach to Scripture.
But, we need to hear these words.

He said: “It is good to put the disciplines of godly living into practice.”
Jesus assumes you will be praying – and even tells you how.
Jesus assumes you will give alms.
Jesus assumes you will fast –
But, he warns about making a show of things when you do these acts of faith –
these acts of godly living.

In fact, Jesus says it is not kosher to do faith acts for show.

Check it out.

Sez the Rev:

You see, we have it all wrong when we talk about giving up something for Lent.
The true practice of Lent, has nothing to do with diet – nothing to do with giving something up –
and everything to do with living your faith –
putting flesh on what you say you believe –
enacting your faith.

Check it out.

Sez the Rev:

Time and time again the prophets and Jesus reminded people in the past –
and reminds us today –
fasting has nothing to do with diet.

Of course, it is a lot easier for us to think that.
But, Micah tells us, Jeremiah tells us, Jesus tells us – what Isaiah tells us:
"The kind of fasting I want is this:
Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free.
Share your food with the hungry
and open your homes to the homeless poor.
Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear,
and do not refuse to help your own relatives.”

Or, as one translator puts it:
"This is the kind of fast day I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.”

Time and time again, folks went astray and thought fasting had something to do with diet –
self-deprivation was a whole lot easier to deal with than what the prophets and Jesus said God has in mind.
Fasting has to do with living your faith –
putting flesh on what you say you believe –
enacting your belief.

Check it out.

Sez the Rev:

The purpose of fasting is not so much a bodily discipline and it is a sharing discipline.
Becoming aware of the needs of others,
and responding to them with generous gifts of our time and talents and money are particularly transforming.
Somehow, somewhere along the way, we have lost the complete meaning of fasting, and alms-giving, and righteous living.

Clearly it is not a new problem.
Even before Jesus’ time, prophet after prophet after prophet took the people to task about their misguided fasting.

Isaiah could say to the devout:
Do you think the LORD wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush?
Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes?
Is that what you call fasting?
Do you think I will be pleased with that?

They just didn’t get it.

And, quite frankly, we just don’t get it either.

Check it out.

Sez the Rev:

We need Lent!

Lent encourages us to look within ourselves to see how we have confused popular cultural values with Christian faith.

Through sustained focus on the life and ministry of Jesus, Lent can help us resist the pressures of this culture.

Check it out.

Sez the Rev:

Remembering that Jesus took 40 days off to prepare for the beginning of his ministry, the church sets aside these 40 days prior to Easter for us to get ready.
This is a time for us to explore the mysteries of the universe,
looking beneath the surface –
within ourselves –
examining our own motives and desires,
and ascertaining exactly what our commitment is:
to what,
to whom,
and what it means.

Check it out.

Sez the Rev:

During this time before Easter we are challenged to open ourselves in new ways to the Spirit’s transforming power – not unlike Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry.
Check it out.

Lent Begins March 13th

From the beginning, part and parcel of the Lenten observance has been alms giving.
The purpose of fasting is not so much a bodily discipline as it is a sharhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifing discipline.
Becoming aware of the needs of others, and responding to them with generous gifts of our time and talents and money are particularly transforming.

During this season we will be emphasizing our One Great Hour of Sharing as a concrete way of self-sacrifice for the needs of others.
The discipline of a daily gift to the One Great Hour of Sharing jar is a concrete way of focusing our thoughts on our individual purpose for living.
It becomes an expression of the faith we proclaim.
We will dedicate these special offerings on Palm Sunday, April 17.

Be with us each Sunday during this Lenten season at Christ Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill.

11 Ways to Observe Lent - According to Jesus

Wash your face and comb your hair. (Mat 6:17b)

Do not put on a sad face. (Mat 6:16)

When you pray, go to your room, close the door. (Mat 6:6)

When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words. (Mat 6:7)

Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. (Mat 6:1)

When you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it. (Mat 6:2)

When you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it. (Mat 6:3)

Your heart will always be where your treasure is. (Mat 6:21)

Do not worry about tomorrow. (Mat 6:34)

Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it? (Mat 6:27)

Be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what God requires of you.(Mat 6:33)

Lent Begins March 13th

Because Presbyterians rebelled against all things Catholic, Lent was never celebrated in most Presbyterian churches until recent years.
But, Lent is such a rich time.
It is an excellent opportunity for us to really focus on things that matter.

Lent is meant to remind us that
the days are getting longer –
Spring is right around the corner.
Signs of life are preparing to bud right in front of our eyes.

And, we need to prepare ourselves to see these signs!

Be with us at Christ Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill each Sunday during these 40 days before Easter.

It's the Presbyterian Way

Lent Begins March 13th

We need Lent!
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Lent encourages us to look within ourselves to see how we have confused popular cultural values with Christian faith.

Through a sustained focus on the life and ministry of Jesus, Lent can help us resist the pressures of this culture.

Lent can remind us that we are called to continue his ministry: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you" (John 20:21).

Consequently, Lent prepares us for an Easter that is more than bunnies and eggs, an Easter that begins a whole new reality – a whole new world.

Plan to be with Christ Presbyterian Church each Sunday during this Lenten season to prepare for the coming of Easter.

Lent Begins March 13th

Traditionally, the church has set aside these 40 days prior to Easter as a time for personal reflection toward discovery of our purpose and renewed commitment to our faith.

Many cultures make a lot over the fasting nature of these 40 days.
Carnival is celebrated in many parts of the world the day before Lent begins as the last chance to eat meat for 40 days!
In this country Mardi gras is celhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifebrated in New Orleans on “fat Tuesday” – the day before the 40 day fast begins.

Today, we see these 40 days as an opportunity to attend to the parts of our lives that we often neglect.
We are challenged to open ourselves in new ways to the Spirit’s transforming power.

Plan to be with Christ Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill each Sunday to prepare for the coming of Easter.