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SUNDAY READINGS
Exodus 20:18-24
Psalm 19:7-14
Romans 7:13-25
John 2:13-22
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March 13, 2009
From the Rector's Desk
I had a pastor many years ago who would often quip, "It's too late to fast and pray, so we'd better pray fast!" His tongue-in-cheek jibe was a good natured swipe at our ambivalence toward the discipline of fasting, or our avoidance of it altogether. The season of Lent is often described as a 'forty day fast'—not that we fast for the entire period, but that it is a time particularly set aside for acts of self-denial in reflection of Jesus' forty days in the wilderness at the start of his ministry.
I didn't grow up in a church that emphasized fasting—abstaining from food and drink (not that there was much drink). In fact, I can't remember ever hearing it talked about separate from preparation for a medical exam. Yet the Bible is full of references to its importance, and the church's story includes it as a prominent feature of spiritual formation and fellowship with God. This is especially true of the early church which simply expected to fast and to pray, along with other marks of the new life of Christ.
Last week in this column I opened the subject of prayer, knowing that I could say very little about it compared to its depth and richness. The same is true this week as I touch on fasting, even as we continue our journey through Lent, moving closer to the Lord's suffering, death, burial and resurrection.
The Bible says quite a bit about the discipline of fasting; in fact it seems to assume that we will fast, even as we participate in prayer, meditate on scripture, worship, serve, etc. Moses fasted, as did Jesus, and so did the early church. Jews fasted on Monday and Thursday, so Christians differentiated themselves by fasting on Wednesday—the day Christ was betrayed, and Friday—the day the Lord was crucified. These observances, which involved total avoidance of food and drink during daylight hours, eventually developed by the early fourth century into the preparatory season of Lent. Fasting was still observed throughout the year, but the time leading up to Holy Week and Easter was particularly appropriate for this practice. For centuries the observance of various fasts in the church was obligatory and strictly required, so perhaps in reaction to this, for the last 150 years or so, fasting has been largely neglected in most of the church.
It's not the refusal of food itself (or other things) that is our focus in fasting, but coming to understand that we are not dependent upon these things for our meaning and worth—which only comes from God. Fasting tunes us to the heart of God—it's not a desperate attempt to get God to pay attention to us. Skipping a meal because we're busy or to lose weight is also not a picture of biblical fasting. When we fast we give the time to God, in prayer or in service. It is also not helpful to pursue fasting and other spiritual disciplines with a legalistic and rigid spirit, but to offer one's self to the passionate pursuit of God through prayer and self-denial, while reflecting God's joy to others. I know a number of people at Church of the Redeemer who have made fasting a regular part of their lives. A number of us have been fasting for Sallie's healing, and some have taken on extended fasts at different times.
If you're looking for some places to begin, let me suggest the following, even as I confess that fasting is not something I am particularly good at, though I believe I am moving forward in and through it.
— find just one meal to miss, and give the time to God in prayer, or in serving others;
— fast from something that is a part of your diet, even as you offer the journey and self-denial to God. People do this in relationship to caffeine, sugar, alcohol, chocolate, etc.—things that can also be consumed in thanksgiving to God but often get the better of us.
— in terms of time, one can also fast from television, from the internet, from too much time on the phone, from constantly checking the blackberry—anything that warps our sense of value and keeps our lives from being balanced in God's presence. Replace this with godly reading, or time in spiritual friendships.
Overall it is important to remember that the goal of fasting, and other spiritual acts, is to draw us to the Lord and the Lord's people, to restore our sense of being the 'beloved of God', and to help us regain the place of our joy and completeness in Him. To pursue this with grudging obligation, or to try to manipulate God into a certain response, or out of a sense of self-loathing, is not a healthy picture of the discipline of fasting.
For more on fasting, check out the following links:
Richard Foster on fasting
May God grow us through fasting, prayer, repentance and service to others in this season as we wait on Him.
Jay
The Rev. Jay L. Greener, Rector
Church of the Redeemer
frjay@redeemernorthshore.org
Wednesday Lenten Prayer
Lent is marked by several disciples that we can take on for the forty day journey. They are prayer, penitence, self-denial (such as fasting) and almsgiving, or giving to the poor. Our Wednesday evening prayer gatherings will continue during lent with new urgency. Join us for worship and prayer that will conclude, during Lent, with the liturgy for Compline, a brief service offered at the end of the day. We meet at 7 p.m. at the Evangelical Church in Highland Park.
Youth - Whirly Ball Outing
What is whirly ball? Players ride an electrically powered bumper car, playing a unique part basketball, polo and jai lai game. It's a blast! Everyone who tries, loves it! Check it out!
Time and Place: Meeting at the Battaglia's at 3:15 pm. Our time is scheduled at 4:00 pm in Vernon Hills. We'll meet at the Battaglia's and then travel to the Whirly ball court!
Cost: $20 a person
RSVP: Ryan's Email or Phone
Redeemer Kids - Lent
This Lent our children will have the opportunity to honor God through prayer and giving.
Prayer... During this season, families are encouraged to spend regular time together in prayer. In addition, each Sunday, during our children's worship time, kids will be invited to participate in a time of prayer for those in our Redeemer congregation. Therefore, they need to know what's on your heart. Adults and youth are asked to simply write prayer requests or praises on colored pieces of paper, which will be included in the Sunday worship bulletin, and then drop them in the offering plate. Our kids will then pray for you during Lent. Please know that the papers will be used in a creative project that will be displayed in the future. Our children look forward to supporting their Redeemer family in this very special way! Please join us.
Giving... Sharing with others in another way for children to enter into the Lenten season. Information on an opportunity for our kids to give to individuals in need will be available soon!
Extra Resources... As we seek to engage children in Lent through prayer and giving, resources that help in facilitating this at home are available at the children's ministry table. Theses tools will assist children in understanding Lent in the context of the larger Biblical narrative as well as encouraging the practices previously mentioned.
Help With Alpha
Alpha is now underway or just getting ready to begin, and we need people to help. Specifically we're looking for those who can prepare meals for the groups, either for Sunday noon or Tuesday evening. The meal is an integral part of the Alpha design and important to building relationships as people explore the Christian faith. If you would like to assist please contact Ricki Rosengren at rickirosie[a]sbcglobal.net.
Pray for the Alpha course being offered in the following locations, and invite people to attend, especially the group that is beginning in another 10 days.
Gurnee — Sunday afternoons
Women's Group — Wednesday mornings in Wilmette
Wilmette — Tuesday evenings to begin on March 17th
Sonrise Banquet
Church of Redeemer hosts an annual banquet to benefit the Sonrise School in Rwanda. This year the event will take place in October and we are in the process of cleaning up and finalizing the mailing list. If you know of someone that might be interested in attending the banquet and they are not on our mailing list please contact Brocki at the church office with their information and we will be glad to send them an invite.
Last Call for Office items...
Redeemer is doing some Spring cleaning and wonders if anyone out there needs some filing cabinets, office partitions, desks, etc. You are more than welcome to have whatever it is that you need, however you must pick up the item(s) yourself from our Glenview storage unit. Please contact Brocki Murphy at the church office if you are interested in having a look.
Ladies Spring Event and Lunch
When it comes to fashion, have you ever wondered what is involved in the design process? What takes place from the inception of an idea to the actual clothing found in the store? Jules Cole, a fashion designer, will be speaking on this very topic on March 21st at Julie Battaglia's home from 11:00-1:00. Jules trained as a fashion designer at East Sydney College, in Sydney, Australia. At the age of 20 she had her first job as a fashion designer. Jules has worked as a designer for many companies, had her own design business and now teaches in Fashion Design programs at the International Academy of Design and Technology and Harper College.
This will be a fun and interactive time of learning a bit more about fashion, color, trends, the design process and much more. This will be an excellent opportunity to welcome others to the Redeemer community! Begin thinking about whom you could invite to this event, as we seek to extend welcome to those in the NorthShore area.
RSVP: reed.katel[a]gmail.com
Stewardship at Redeemer
Thank you, and thanks be to God, for generosity in giving to Kingdom work through Church of the Redeemer. This has enabled us to meet our budget for the first two months of 2009. We will continue to report our progress, even as we all are praying and seeking God's will for our giving and stewardship of time, energy and abilities.
Average amount needed each week: $6,600
Last week's offering: $8,395
Notes on Prayer...
— During Lent we continue with our Wednesday night prayer gatherings, which conclude with the service of Compline. Please join us Wednesdays from 7-8pm at the EC Church in Highland Park.
— We will offer prayer at the end of our Sunday worship services during Lent. Please take the opportunity to enter into this time.
— Pray for those involved in ministry, including Nate Beasley at the University of Illinois, participating in leadership with Campus Crusade.
Please pray for . . .
- The mission and vision of Church of the Redeemer
- God's provision and will in these days
- Our Redeemer staff and other leaders
- Vestry meeting next Tuesday
- Alpha as it begins again at Redeemer
- The poor and suffering, far and near
- That people will find God during this difficult period
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