Dear Friends
March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, the 2025 Spring or Vernal equinox occurs on 20th March at 6.02am (GMT), a day of importance for our local farmers in Wokingham and Bracknell. But March is better known for the seasonal beginning of Lent.
Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter which begins on Ash Wednesday, 5th March. We mark our foreheads in ash from burnt palm crosses and olive oil. I quote the priestly words to each individual: “Remember that we are from dust and to dust we shall return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to God”. Ash Wednesday opens up a season of reflection and preparation before Easter in April. We copy the example of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.
Many people respond to Lent by withdrawing from things like Facebook, Instagram, some from chocolate and others from alcohol! However, Christians mark Lent with fasting from festivities and food (if we’re able to).
According to a favourite author of mine, N T Wright, “Lent is a time for discipline, for confession, for honesty, not because God is mean or fault- finding or finger-pointing but because he wants us to know the joy of being cleaned out, ready for all the good things he now has in store.” And sometimes, that’s what we’re called to do in Lent. Out of reflection and preparation of hearts and mind, our trust and hope are increased. We no longer feel condemned with an overwhelming sense of sadness, experienced by David in the 51st chapter of Psalms Bible reading. We open our hearts to be released with the joy and peace in amongst challenging circumstances. In short, greater trust! The more we trust God, the greater our readiness and preparation for Easter and beyond. We’re better prepared for life’s calamities throughout the year with that extra bit of confidence and peace.
How, I hear you ask?
We remind ourselves each year that God’s promise was never that life would be fair, that if we were a good person, illness and injury would spare us and would only happen to persons who deserve it. I shared last year that a teacher warned that expecting the world to treat us fairly because we were a good person was like expecting the bull not to charge at us because we were a vegan! It’s worth repeating that God’s promise was that when we had to face the pain and unfairness of the world as we inevitably would, we would not have to face it alone, we’re better prepared for He is with us and puts us within a church community with loving arms to surround us. Somehow, life becomes tolerable because of those well-wishers who walked alongside us. And that becomes the process by which we’re refined with greater trust. I have conducted many funerals, for example, to empathise with bereaved families experiencing the grief of losing a loved one. But I remain confident with reflection and preparation, there’s light at the end of the tunnel or in the darkest hour of night, dawn is just around the corner. As a praying church community, we’re with all families every step of the way as they navigate life’s journeys.
Lent remains for me a time of reflection and preparation for Easter and beyond. We surely need it in these challenging times of conflict, wars, rumours of more wars and demands for peace.
We’re establishing a space for Lent reflections entitled: “Living Hope” (individual copies available from church) containing Bible studies, prayers, ideas, human stories and ways to take the themes further. Reflections will be run by Russell Shipton, Mark and Anne Andrews. We shall meet at St Sebastian’s Parish Centre (Nine Mile Ride) on Wednesdays (10 am) and Thursdays (8pm) from 12th and 13th March until the Thursday morning of Holy Week. You only need to attend one of the two weekly events. Do also look out for our list of Easter services elsewhere on the website. I do hope that you’ll be able to join us.
Stay blessed with love
Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray
Parish of the Wokingham St Sebastian’s
A prayer for the month of March
Dear Lord
When faith is faint,
Speech veils our intentions,
And peace seems so distant,
Restore us with words of power and purity,
Grant us a second chance,
Renew a right spirit within us
And remind us that we’re special and loved!
Both now and forever.
In Jesus name,
Amen