Lent

Our church, along with others in the community, has been a participant in a series of noontime Lenten services for the past several weeks. I ran into a couple of Catholic friends this morning who have been attending the services, and they posed a friendly question: “Isn’t the observance of Lent sort of a new thing for Baptists?” I responded, “It is, but for a number of years our church along with many other Baptists have taken a serious new look at the Christian calendar and the various seasons of the church year.”

I recall that when I was a seminary student, more than twenty-five years ago, the Christian Calendar was rarely mentioned. I came away from seminary knowing more about our denominational calendar and special days of emphasis that I did about Advent, Lent, Epiphany, or Pentecost. In my earlier pastorates, my sermon preparation and worship planning was directed mainly by the secular calendar combined with special denominational days of interest.

Only in recent years have I preached a sermon on the Transfiguration or observed Pentecost or Epiphany. Two of the most meaningful services we now have in our church are All Saints Sunday and Maundy Thursday. During our All Saints service we remember loved ones who have gone on to be with the Lord during the year. We also ask members of the congregation who have lost someone significant in their lives to stand, and then we circle around them and pray.

Following the Church calendar is anything but rote, boring, or lifeless. Using the church calendar in worship preparation brings a healthy, balanced approach to the life of a congregation. New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, July 4th, etc., are all significant and should be observed and celebrated in the proper setting. As long as Hallmark Cards stays in business, there will not be any lack of promotion for these special days and events. Who, if not the church, is going to honor and promote the days and seasons of the Christian calendar?

Blessings,
Jimmy