Rector’s Message- March 2023
Have you ever thought of Lent as an invitation to a mini-monasticism? What if instead of ashes on foreheads we handed out a whole alb, or perhaps a necklace with a token of our ‘order’? The deepest and most continually lifegiving practices of Lent all reflect the best of our monastic traditions: more silence, more intentional community, abstinence of some form, more regular prayer. It may be that most of the time you do not want to be a monastic; perhaps the very suggestion of Lent as monastic-y raises a touch of anxiety and even alien-ness in you. Or it may be that a life more focused on practices of service, praise, and contemplation is a glorious invitation. Whichever it is, or something in between, our discipleship to Jesus calls us to a Holy Lent where tenacity, groundedness, and a wiser life pattern can help us cultivate a better world.
Last year we followed a C.S. Lewis focus in many parts of our prayer and study life together. This year I am inviting us to a Benedictine focus. The Benedictine order, of which there is an Episcopal branch, began in the sixth century as a search for faithful growth and moral strength. Founded by Benedict of Nursia, he intended to create a fresh way to live for the common good in the context of a world that was rapidly changing. It is an invitation to lead ordinary lives extraordinarily well in God’s sight. As part of our weekly Prayer During the Day broadcasts we are reading through Living with Contradiction: An Introduction to Benedictine Spirituality by Esther de Waal, and our vestry is reading through The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life by Joan Chittister. Perhaps you will want to look at those too.
Part of the reason I am interested in sharing these with you is that I wonder if some of the role that monastic centers served in times past is part of how we live into the future where the church doesn’t serve the role it did in the mid 20th century. In premodern times monastic centers were places of education, respite, and caregiving for the wider neighborhood. They existed and were led by persons with a strong interest in religion, community, and spirituality; but they served all who needed occasional experiences in the same, or basic needs. Without all of us taking orders – what can the best of that model offer us as a future to live into? How can we sprout fresh ministries wherein CCRP be a center for education, wellness, holiness, and sacrament? As you continue in the ways of Lent offered on-site and on-line, I hope that the vision of a mini-monasticism helps you make choices that align you with the way of Jesus and the reign of God. We are glad you are here – reading this, listening to the Spirit, gathering on-site and online. Reach out and share how you are embracing a holy Lent.