The Season of Lent
Early Christians observed “a season of penitence and fasting” in preparation for the Paschal feast, or Pascha (BCP, pp. 264-265). The season now known as Lent (from an Old English word meaning “spring,” the time of lengthening days) has a long history. Originally, in places where Pascha was celebrated on a Sunday, the Paschal feast followed a fast of up to two days. In the third century this fast was lengthened to six days. Eventually this fast became attached to, or overlapped, another fast of forty days, in imitation of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. The forty-day fast was especially important for converts to the faith who were preparing for baptism, and for those guilty of notorious sins who were being restored to the Christian assembly. In the western church the forty days of Lent extend from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, omitting Sundays. The last three days of Lent are the sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Today Lent has reacquired its significance as the final preparation of adult candidates for baptism. Joining with them, all Christians are invited “to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word” (BCP, p. 265).
Monday – Thursday Compline: 7:30 pm on Zoom. Contact us for Zoom link.
ALL are welcome!
St. Luke’s Rector
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Wilton is pleased to announce that the Rev. John Balicki has joined the church as their new rector. Before becoming an Episcopal priest, Rev. Balicki has been a civil engineer, a regional planner, a Catholic priest, a pastoral counselor, and the bicycle/pedestrian coordinator for the state of Maine. Most recently, he served as Episcopal priest at St. Alban’s Church in Cape Elizabeth and at St. Mark’s in Waterville. He is joined by his wife Karen.
We gather each Sunday morning at 9:30, to pray for each other and the world, read and preach the gospel, and work to appropriate it in our lives. You are welcome wherever you are on your spiritual journey.
