Posts Tagged ‘lectionary’

LENT :: are you practicing?

February 25th, 2009

This is actually the post i just put on my blog :: www.erikwillitsblog.com
But i thought since it was about Lent it might fit here as well.

What are you and your community doing for Lent?
Anything? Why or why not?

It seems like a lot of church plants don’t really do the lectionary thing.
Any ideas on the why of that?

I would love to know if your a church planter and you do.
Please share.

Here’s my post…
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Lent means a lot of things to a lot of people, to me it has meant for the past 4 or 5 years that i have practiced LENT a practice in prayer and fasting among other things.

I will further dive into my understand of LENT but i thought i would post a few helpful // interesting Lent Links that might help you get started!

First off, of course…

Wiki LENT
This is Wikipedia info on Lent. A good read with some helpful information.

Next is ehow LENT
a nice little “how to” for the beginning Lent observer.

One of my biggest question is always, “What should i fast from this year”.
In case you didn’t know, during Lent one gives up (fasts) or takes on certain things.
This is Yahoo answer :: what to fast from during Lent
Some interesting answers indeed; sweets, religion, computers, TV, and my personal favorite Lent als. To name a few.

I do believe this year i will be giving up my social media networks.
No facebook, twitter, VIRB, myspace, etc, etc.
i might go through withdrawals but i think it will be good for me.

I also plan on taking up the discipline of reading and praying everyday, first things.
Most every day i read and pray but most everyday it’s after breakfast, after some computer time, after whatever else. Often i even roll over and check my email via my beautiful iPhone and then play a game or to. Nerd, i know…
So the plan is to pray and read my bible first thing.

Here are some links to other who are fasting from social media.
and i thought i was the only one!

The facebook link to the social media fast group.
a funny concept if you really think about it.

A little article on Social networking fast :: from the marketing shift

This was another interesting fast i found while googling around.
Interesting :: The carbon fast

Peace and fasting!
Erik

 

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Following the Calendar…

December 4th, 2008

The typical growing church and I think just about every large “mega” church (not that being a mega church will ever be a goal of mine) but these communities aren’t really known for following the Church calendar or really participating in any kind of orthodox liturgy. They might participate in the Eucharist once a month or something like that but that’s about it. They celebrate Christmas and Easter but other than those days the yearly life of the Church is kinda lost in these communities.

When Mars Hill Bible Church decided to participate in Lent a couple years ago people thought that was wild, revolutionary even. Seriously? There was a Catholic church next to the college I went to and 2 or 3 years when I was in college I went to this church on Ash Wednesday, participated in their service, even took communion (shhh, don’t tell anybody who is Catholic). Then once I got out of college I have, every year i have found an Episcopal church to celebrate Ash Wednesday with and start the Lenten season. This is not novel or revolultionary, this is what the Church does and has done for hundreds of years.

I just wonder if communities miss out on part of what it means to follow God when we don’t pay any attention to our calendar.

I have recently began attending an Anglican church and they rigursouly adhere to the church calendar. We read the lectionary readings every Sunday and Thomas (the pastor / priest guy) preaches one of these readings. It’s a different experience for me but my wife and I are really enjoying thus far.

I bring up this topic because it’s Advent and Advent officially starts our Calendar.

But more specifically I bring it up to get your feedback and ideas on following the Calendar and participating in the church year as a community.

[ SOME QUESTIONS ]

Why don’t most modern, growing, relevant, “successful” communities follow the Christian calendar?

I always wonder if it’s an all or nothing thing. Do you either have to really follow the Calendar or just not follow it at all? (Christmas and Easter don’t count).

Is there any really good examples of a church really doing some great thing, growing and serving in their context and being shaped by the church year?
I want to good examples. Know of any?

I think Mars Hill is actually doing some Advent action this year. I haven’t listened or looked into it yet though.

SO yea, what are you thoughts?
DO SHARE!

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Posted in Community Planting // General, Erik | Comments (4)