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" Think
Globally, act Locally"
If
you've ever found yourself asking that question - as an individual or as
part of a Church community - the
Lent
Course will begin to look at 5 areas
of our life together, which lie at the heart of our calling as Christian
disciples.
This year our
Lent
Course focuses on
the environment and what we think God's 'take' on the issues might be.
In his June 2004 lecture on the environment, the Archbishop of Canterbury,
Rowan Williams called on the Church to undertake an audit of its green
credentials. Amongst other things we'll be thinking about Our Covenant
with Creation, the Sacrament of Creation, the Role of Humanity and the
Sabbath Feast of Enoughness.
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Thur,
9th March 2006: |
Why bother? Some of the
issues and reasons (e.g. our use of transport) |
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Thur,
16th March 2006: |
Attitudes we ought to be
fostering (e.g. our use of water) |
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Thur,
23rd March 2006: |
The Eco footprint - how
bad are we? An Audit! (e.g. our use of energy) |
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Thur,
30th March 2006: |
The Eco congregation -
what can we begin to do about it (e.g. reducing waste) |
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Thur,
6th April 2006: |
An act of worship,
contemplation and action. |
All sessions in the course take
place from 8 to 9.30 p.m. in St Peter's Chapel. Worship is led by the
Emmaus
Groups and there is time for discussion and refreshments. For
further information or to let us know you are coming, please get in touch
with us via the Contact
page
Lent
may be a sober time,
but it's not a depressing time. It's a time for self-examination, not
beating ourselves up. It's a time for realistic self-appraisal
...seeing ourselves in true perspective ...remembering that God knows us
better than we know ourselves - and yet still loves us! All this is
excellent preparation for the joyful celebration of new life at
Easter
, whether we choose to
give something up or take something on as our spiritual discipline this
season.
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Collect for Ash Wednesday
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and
forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; create and make
in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and
acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all
mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ your
Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. |
Fasting & Feasting
Lent
can be more than a time
of fasting - it can be a season of feasting too. We can use
Lent
to fast from certain
things and to feast on others; for example...
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WE CAN FAST FROM... |
WE CAN FEAST ON... |
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judging others |
the Christ dwelling in them |
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emphasis on differences |
the unity of life |
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apparent darkness |
the reality of light |
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thoughts of illness |
the healing power of God |
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words that pollute |
phrases that purify |
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discontent |
gratitude |
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anger |
patience |
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pessimism |
optimism |
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worry |
divine order |
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complaining |
appreciation |
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negatives |
affirmatives |
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unrelenting pressure |
unceasing prayer |
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hostility |
non-resistance |
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bitterness |
forgiveness |
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self-concern |
compassion for others |
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personal anxiety |
eternal truth |
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facts that depress |
verities that uplift |
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discouragements |
hope |
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lethargy |
enthusiasm |
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thoughts that weaken |
promises that inspire |
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shadows of sorrow |
the sunlight of serenity |
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idle gossip |
purposeful silence |
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problems that overwhelm |
prayer that undergirds |
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From a
Benedictine website as quoted in THE TABLET, 3rd March 2001, p.325 |
Picture Credits on
this page: FreeFoto.com
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