During the month of March and into April we will journey through Lent together. Don’t forget it is Mothering Sunday on Sunday 30th March (special service at 10.30am at Powick Church, hint, hint). Easter is late this year, with Palm Sunday not until the 13th of April, Holy Week and, of course, Easter Day on 20th April, when we celebrate the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
People often give things up for Lent like chocolate or wine or beer or even social media. But sometimes this ‘giving up’ is not for the right reasons!! I’ll say no more on that!
As a Church active in Lent, surely our goal must be intentional about the spiritual disciplines of prayer and scripture, self-reflection and self-discipline and a commitment to shared worship and shared life. The practice of generosity is among those core spiritual disciplines.
Generosity is not only about what we do, but also about who we are. We should try to be generous disciples in all aspects of our living and giving. Generous discipleship does not pretend that generosity is easy, in fact, no spiritual discipline is easy. We don’t pretend that there isn’t a ‘cost of living crisis,’ because there is, and it is a very real, ongoing challenge to individuals as well as organisations including the church here.
Jesus encouraged his disciples not to worry and told them to give generously. You can read about this in Luke 12:22-34. When we think of God, a loving generous God, and His Son, Jesus Christ, we see selfless giving. God gave us his Son. Jesus gave himself to die on the cross for us, to pay for our sin and our wrongs and to provide a way to life in eternity. Death is defeated. Such love. Such generosity.
Even on the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Such love. Such generosity. Jesus said to the criminal on the cross at his side, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Such love. Such generosity.
Can I, this Lent, encourage you to think about selfless, generous living and giving. Not just the giving of money, as important as that is, but the giving of time, of help, of small tokens of thoughtfulness, of love and of care? When we truly reflect on our loving and generous God and His Son Jesus, whose compassion, mercy, and grace are beyond what we could really expect, please can we pray and ask ourselves the question, “I want to help more. Am I living and giving enough. Am I”?
This year’s secular Lenten collection will be split between Sight Savers and St Richard’s Hospice. If you would like to donate, come to Church during Lent and deposit your donation in the Red Bucket. Alternatively, do drop a donation off (in an envelope marked Lent Collection) to The Vicarage (31 The Greenway, Colletts Green, Powick WR2 4RZ).
Talking of generosity, thank you to all that have donated to the Church funds to help cover 56% of the required Diocesan Ministry Share expected by the two parishes in 2024. Such good giving giving supports wider ministry of the Diocese of Worcester and is used to pay Stipends support clergy training and housing whilst resourcing the National Church. On top of this giving, our churches don’t heat/light or insure themselves – fundraising, stewardships and wise investment management help keep our churches active. As you can see, 56% is not 100% so we have more to do to make our four churches sustainable and able to support my full-time ministry.
Thank you to everyone who gives to your Churches across these five villages in so many ways- in time, skills, or cash – and especially prayers and thanksgiving for our shared ministry.
Wishing you a thoughtful and generous Holy season of Lent.
God Bless,
Rev Gary