Preparing for Lent

March 9, 2011 is Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent will begin.  Lent is often a time for personal introspection and confession. And people often talk about the personal sacrifices that they are planning for that time period. What strikes me about the "giving up for Lent" idea is that is  very self oriented. While I believe that self-denial is good for the soul, I also believe that to give something up just for the sake of denying yourself a simple pleasure is not what God would aks us to do. Read Is. 58,  the words there call us not to fast for  the wrong reasons or with the wrong attitude, but rather to consider the fast that God would choose - to loose the bonds of injustice,  to let the oppressed go free, to share your bread with the hungry, bring the homeless into your house, cover the naked,  and not ignore your own family.
 As I consider this, I wonder what I will do during lent that will be outwardly focused. It will probably include self denial - but not just for denials sake but for the sake of others. What can I let go of that will enable me to loose the bonds of injustice? How can I focus my confessions not only on sins of commission but the sins of omission? "We confess that we have failed to be an obedint church"  In what ways can I be more obedient to the call of Christ on my life? The call to feed the hungry, visit the sick and imprisoned, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger..... should be real in my life - not just words in scripture (Mt. 25).
Will you join me? Will you find a way to fast during Lent that would be a fast that God would choose? Will you give up your cup of coffee at Starbucks to provide a meal for a hungry person? Will you fast from time in front of the TV or internet to visit someone who is sick or imprisoned? Will you abstain from practices that harm the earth to decrease your carbon footprint? All the while deepening your realtionship with Jesus. "The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and ;you shall be like a waterd garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail." (Is.58:11)
for more ideas to consecrate this season of Lent visit;  www.gbod.org/worship
Stewardship Helps from Oregon Idaho United Methodist Annual Conference lists ways that we can observe a fast from carbon;

"Why should you consider a fast from carbon? There are at least five reasons:  

1. The carbon dioxide we are putting into the environment, in the form of greenhouse gases, is changing the climate of God's creation, our planet Earth. ...The sources of these greenhouse gases are largely produced by human beings and the society we have created.
2. The largest component of greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide, which comes from the burning of fossil fuels during the generation of electricity and from the modes of transportation that we use.
3. Unless we reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases, the impact of these increases will be devastating for our planet, for its people -- especially the poor and vulnerable -- and for the plants and animals that have lived here for millions of years. Time is critical.
4. God created this Earth, declared it to be good, and expects us to care for creation and to maintain its goodness for future generations."

Action

As you think about how you would like to observe this coming Lent,please consider using one these practical tools:

• WAIPL's "2011 Carbon Fast for Lent" Calendar: suggests a practical, carbon-dioxide-reducing action for each day of Lent (e.g., "find the most environmentally friendly way to get to church today" and "run your dishwasher only with a full load").
• Alternatives for Simple Living's "Lenten Carbon Reduction Fast": also a Lenten calendar -- this one with daily Scripture readings and actions (e.g., "put a coin in [a designated Lenten jar] for every time you turned on the faucet and received clean, safe water today") that raise consciousness and money (for a chosen environmental organization/charity).
• Earth Ministry/WAIPL's "Caring for Creation: A Prayer and Action Guide for a Lenten Fast from Carbon,": seven prayerful reflections (for Ash Wednesday and the six Sundays of Lent) that include insights on regional impacts of climate change, Scripture readings and prayers, and actions of individuals wanting to reduce carbon dioxide waste.  An excellent resource for weekly bulletin inserts, adult forums, and even personal devotions.
• "God, Earth, and Us: Lenten Meditations on Our Relationship with Creation": Produced by Rev. Jenny Phillips (of the PNW UMC Annual Conference) for the 2009 Lenten season, this devotional series continues to offer rich insights on living in greater communion with God's creation.
• Earth Ministry's rich collection of Lenten Devotions & Resources.
• "Living Earth: A Lenten Journey": Produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, this is a "reflection series on our relationship with God's creation" -- with reflections for each day during Lent.
• "Powering Down:... Suggestions for Caring for Creation during the Season of Lent": from the Tennessee and Oregon Interfaith Power and Light, this resource contains a lesson plan for youth, sample sermons, tips for saving energy, and more.
• "Stations of the Cross with All Creation": Produced by the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center ($2) -- "The 15 Stations consider the suffering of Jesus, our planet, and its people and envision resurrection and new life." 

 May God richly bless your Lenten season!!