Rev Rosie writes February 2024

Rev Rosie Bunn
Rector of All Saints Church, Belton
and
St Peter & St Paul Church, Burgh Castle

Snowflakes are falling, lightly and gently, a reminder that it is still very much winter. The ducks are limited to only half the pond as one side is iced up! And yet, we have snowdrops and daffodils pushing out of the group and the first few snowdrops showing their delightful white flowers. Spring is on its way, and the promise of warmer mornings and longer days!
 
But first we have the month of February to go through, and this year right in the middle of the month we not only have Valentines Day, with the push of the shops to sell us chocolates and flowers and a variety of cards, just to tell our loved ones we love them. Shouldn’t that be something we do every day – not the flowers, cards, and chocolates, but the expression of love to those we care about? All those hearts and kisses that are shared on the 14th February; if an every-day occurrence might make our world a happier place
 
On the 14th February this year, we also have the start of Lent with Ash Wednesday. So our waistlines might get bigger with all the pancakes on the Tuesday and chocolates on the Wednesday, but for some (those who might give up chocolate for Lent) it might be a long wait to celebrate Easter and eat chocolate eggs as well as Valentines Day chocolates
 
Interestingly, Ash Wednesday in many churches includes a time of “ashing” where participants offer their foreheads to be marked with an ash cross – a symbol of taking Lent seriously. A symbol too of penitence – of facing up to the more negative aspects of human life and asking for God’s help; with the commitment of that focus for the six weeks leading up to Holy Week and Easter
 
Some of us might not be interested in Valentines Day and others not interested in taking part in Lenten activities, but the month of February will be made special for many, because of these special dates
 
One of the suggested ways of engaging with God during Lent is to look to do something special for other people each day; something extra to do, rather than giving up things like chocolate and alcohol. Other people might choose to read a book that encourages them in their Christian faith and in life generally.
 
Lent is part of the preparation that churches and individuals make to ready themselves for the celebration of Easter
 
Last year the Church of England’s Lent focus was through daily reflections on Dust and Glory: we were all invited to explore how we can live well with the mess of everyday life. Dust and Glory encouraged us to take a fresh look at the frustrations and failings that every day brings and, rather than pretending we can always avoid them, seek to learn from them and grow closer to God through them
 
This year the theme is Watch and Pray: wisdom and hope for Lent and life. On the night Jesus was betrayed, Jesus kneels in darkness in the Garden of Gethsemane. Though he pleads with his disciples, “Stay here with me ... Watch and pray” they all fall asleep, leaving him alone in his hour of deepest suffering. Watch and Pray invites us to seek God in both familiar and unfamiliar places this Lent: in darkness and in quiet; in movement and migration; in the healing and transforming work of the Spirit; in the weeping of Holy Week and in the joy of Easter morning. There will be booklets for daily readings and reflection for both adults and children available from the churches in Burgh Castle and Belton. The reflections will also be available through social media – watch out for the links on All Saints Belton’s Facebook page
 
Looking forward to the arrival of spring is something most of us do. I hope and pray that the month of February will pass without any exceptional weather events, and that we can enjoy Valentines Day – a day of sharing love – as well as Pancake Day, and the beginning of Lent, as a time of getting together to benefit not just ourselves but our community as a whole. Bless you
Rev Rosie Bunn