Paul Wimsett

Vicar's Viewpoint

Lent: Planting for Growth

A lot of hard work has to go on… to achieve the final harvest.

Farmers and gardeners have already been planning for this year's harvest, preparing soil, seeds, plants and much more in order to achieve it. A lot of hard work has to go on, frequently for a long time, to achieve the final harvest.

In the spiritual life, Lent is a time when for centuries Christians have sought out opportunities to invest time and energy in looking for a growing spiritual harvest in their lives and beyond themselves. They do this knowing that just as farmers and gardeners depend very much on rain, sun and the like for the harvest, so people of faith need the work of God's Spirit most of all to bring that spiritual harvest to fruition.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 22^nd February. In the weeks up to this Christians are encouraged to think and pray about how we can use this time to the full, so that by the end of Lent at Easter we have grown closer to the Jesus Christ whose resurrection triumph we celebrate once again.

There are ways we can privately give time and effort in order to grow spiritually. We could read through a Gospel, or another devotional book, or commit ourselves to a new act of service. Many people are helped by being part of a Lent activity with others. In our parishes, we will be offering two national Lent courses this year. 'Handing On The Faith', picking up on an Olympic theme, asks how do we pass on the torch of faith in a challenging age. 'Everybody Welcome' asks: 'How can the church be a more welcoming body and place in the contemporary world?'. See more details elsewhere in Chudleigh News and during February. We would be delighted to have you as part of these discussions.

This Lent do look for God-given opportunities to plant for growth for you, the church and the world.

                                                              
Copyright © 2010 Chudleigh Parish Church of St Martin & St Mary
Last modified: 30/03/11