After the business of Christmas and the excitement of New Year, this time of year can sometimes feel a little dull – the weather often doesn’t help, but more so than that, this is often a period where people can feel deflated. Dark mornings and early evenings (at least, until the clocks change), perhaps recovering from an expensive Christmas (for wallet, waistline, or both), and (as I experience every year) New Year’s Resolutions gathering cobwebs in the corner, can often leave us with a sense that we’re once again back into simply going through the motions of life.

People may think that life in the church can feel like this too sometimes – that there are times and seasons not only in nature, but in the ebb and flow of ministry, which leave us either very busy, or feeling that we seem to be doing the same sorts of things on repeat. The beginning of February is marked by what is very poetically and creatively (!) called “Short Ordinary Time” in the church calendar. Ordinary Time is marketed as exactly that – ordinary. It is not a season of preparation, nor one of celebration. It is simply the normal time between things – the gaps between the “Big Services” that people are more familiar.

In truth, there is no such thing as “Ordinary Time” – short, or otherwise. All of life, every day, is a gift and blessing which we receive from God. Our worship on Sundays, far from being simply repetitive and mundane, is the continual re-encountering of the Divine, right in front of us, in our presence. February also brings with it the start of Lent, the penitential six weeks where we prepare for Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.  I am very excited to let you know that this year we will be offering a Lent course over these six weeks, free of charge, and open to anyone and everyone.

Our course is called Bread of Life, and focuses on the Eucharist, or Holy Communion – what it means, what the church teaches happens at the service, and how our encounter with the bread and wine, the Body and Bloody of Christ, shapes our lives and our faith. Details are still to be confirmed, but when they are there will be posters in all of the church noticeboards, and information on the Benefice website (www.ariconium.church). More information about the course itself can be found on its website (www.breadoflifecourse.co.uk).

So, as we battle through the rain and the mundane, take a moment to step back and look around you, and to realise that there really isn’t anything “ordinary” in the lives which we lead, or the world in which we live. And please do consider signing up for our Lent course – David or I would be happy to speak to you further if you have any questions. God bless!

 

Rev. Ewan Gillings, Curate

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