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Introduction to the study:
The liturgical season of Lent brings forth a range of responses and behaviours from people.
Some Christians give up eating chocolate, others cease drinking alcohol, while others refrain from participating in some pleasurable activity that involves spending money on self. People then give the money saved to a mission activity or project.
Other Christians like to take up certain activities such as reading a particular book, attending a mid week worship and/or, spending time reflecting on a particular aspect of their faith journey and how they might be more faithful in serving Christ.
I know some people who spend time reflecting on the fruit of the spirit and their journey of faith with
the purpose to live more fully in Christ. “…… the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
I remember when I was young referring to these two verses as the “fruits of the spirit”. A clergy person gently told me that it is the “fruit of the spirit”. He went onto say that as a Christian, you need to focus on all nine aspects, not just one.
We live in a changing world. Life in the Church also continues to change. Some of us were brought up to fast before receiving Holy Communion. Many of us know about Lent, but there may be others who may not have even heard of the word “Lent” in faith community circles. In the past, you could assume that study group participants had a certain body of knowledge, However that is not the case today. Also some of those who have come to the faith recently, their focus is Jesus and not the institutional Church.
It is important that each member of the study group is sensitive to the needs of other group members. However, all are welcome and we can learn from one another.
For churches that use the Lectionary, this Liturgical Year is Year A. On page 22 of the resource “Using the Catechumenal Process in Australia” it states, “The Lenten gospels of Year A are the classic Catechmenal readings, traditionally associated with the days before baptism.”
In the early Church, people seeking baptism at Easter were known as catechumens. The catechumens attended the early part of the worship (Ministry of the Word) and then withdrew from worship. In the time of withdrawal the catechumens participated in an intense time of instruction based on the Gospel reading for that day. Catechumens were seeking new life in Christ. Likewise, Christians use the season of Lent as a time to renew their life in Christ.
In many Christian Churches (like HHO) on Easter Day, worshippers are invited to renew their baptismal promises. It is important that we also spend time during Lent focusing on the baptismal promises so that when we come to renew our baptismal promises, we do so with a deeper understanding and conviction.
In this study there is a section in the group time each week to explore one of the baptismal promises and/or questions.
Each study has five parts.
- First, worship at both the start and conclusion of each group session.
- Second, “Let’s kick in as we …..”, also known as “On Board Time”
- Third, exploring a particular spiritual discipline as a group.
- Fourth, focussing on a particular baptismal promise or question.
- Five, pondering two of the readings for the Sunday for that particular week in Lent.
This is a smorgasbord. There is far too much material for each session. It is up to the group to decide which areas of the study you would like to explore, but I encourage each group to explore the “Spiritual Discipline” together.
This approach is a slightly different to previous years, but it enables group members to hear where other people are coming from in their faith journey. We are all different and may our differences enrich not only our group life, but encourage us to reflect in ways that we may not have thought of before, as we continue to move through the six weeks of Lent.
The journey of faith is an adventure. It is important that Christians take the disciplines of Lent seriously.
May God bless you and your group members as you continue your journey of faith.
+ Bill.
Bishop Bill was our guest preacher for the 9th Sunday of Pentecost 2021 is on the Pastoral team at the Cathedral and is also a member of HHO.