Why does Oak Ridge practice Lent?

The motivation behind our initial experiment with Ash Wednesday and Lent grew from a collision of spiritual disciplines study and post-Christmas conversations about our consumption driven culture. The spiritual discipline of fasting seemed a healthy option for balancing thoughtless consumption and Lent seemed to be about fasting. We had no idea where this exploration would take us. Our first Ash Wednesday experience came to life at the confluence of three important streams. First, through study we learned that the season of Lent itself pre-dates Roman Catholicism. In fact, though the days leading to Easter were not always 40 in length, from a very early time the ancient churches did practice a time of fasting and repentance in preparation for baptism of new Christians on Easter. It didn't take the church long to realize that personal repentance and reflection on the blessings of salvation, combined with prayer and fasting, strengthened the spiritual walk of novice and experienced believers alike. Emphasizing the Biblical symbolism related to the number 40 (especially the 40 day fast of Jesus) the church soon began to participate in what we call Lent (from an Old English word for Spring) as a faith community event. The second stream we discovered flowing into our experience was a surprising number of Oak Ridge members who desired just such a spiritual experience to connect them to the broader Christian experience through the Centuries. That first Wednesday night, over 75 of us gathered for an experience that though new for most of us, would deeply shape us. We repeatedly heard comments about how the experience openned doors to both spiritual meaning and tangible worship. Though few of us at the time were tech savvy enough to comment on the blog, many deeply moving posts let us know families were making time to do Lent guided devotionals and were often surprised at the spiritual insights of their children. And that leads us to the third stream. Both Ash Wednesday and the 40 days of Lent have proven to be effectively inter-generational. Believers of all ages have interacted with stories and insights and viewpoints that have blessed each other. This may add more strength to our reasons for practicing Lent than anything else. We want our children to hear our adults talk about their faith and confess their need for forgiveness and appreciation for God's guidance. Likewise, what adult hasn't been moved by the simply expressed faith of a child. This year will be our best one yet. We've learned a few things the last two. Come. Bring family and friends. Stay away from any Mardis Gras celebrations the day before. Then join us Wednesday night to celebrate the Grace and Mercy of our Lord!