|
|
Marshalswick Baptist Free Church -
Nurture |
|
Lent is a 40 day period before Easter which is set aside for reflection and repentance. The Biblical precedent for Lent is the withdrawal of Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days. Sundays are, traditionally, not counted in this period because they commemorate the Resurrection and, as such, are always ‘feast days’. Traditionally, Lent is a time of fasting or reducing the amount of food eaten. It's also a period for reflecting on the life of Christ and on one's own relationship with God. Some Christians find spiritual value in giving up something for Lent - not as a penance but as a sign of dying to self. Shove Tuesday Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent begins. The origin of the word ‘shrove’ is uncertain but some linguists believe that it comes from an old English word, ‘shrive’, which means, to confess. (1 Jn 1: 9; Jas .5: 16) During the early middle ages, Christians were required to attend confession in the week before Lent. As the Lenten season was one of deprivation, it became customary to imbibe more than usual in the previous week. This was especially true of the day before the Lenten season began - Shrove Tuesday - when foods and sweets which were generally prohibited during Lent were eaten. Shrove Tuesday is sometimes called Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French). The Latin word, ‘carnival’, (meaning, 'farewell to meat') is sometimes associated with Mardi Gras. Some Christians feel uncomfortable with Lent because of the wild and drunken excesses of Mardi Gras. Other Christians however, despite their reservations, feel led to embrace aspects of the greater Christian tradition, such as Lent, as a means to refocus on their Christian heritage. Ash Wednesday Lent always begins on a Wednesday and this is known as Ash Wednesday. The earliest observation of Ash Wednesday dates to the 6th century. It was called Ash Wednesday because ashes, made from the burning of palm leaves from the previous year, were used in the service. In Anglican, Orthodox and Catholic churches, a special service was held on Ash Wednesday, during which the priest daubed an ash cross on people’s foreheads. The ash cross was a reminder of the Sacrifice of Christ. It was common for the minister or priest to say, 'Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return'. This emphasised that, though we will all die, those who die in Christ have hope of eternal life in glory. Palm Sunday Palm Sunday is the Sunday before the Easter weekend. This commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey when he was welcomed by crowds waving palm branches cut from nearby palm trees and laying them, along with their cloaks, in his path. The crowds treated Jesus as a dignitary on this Sunday. A Bible reading which is used on this day is Ps.118: 19-29. The crowd thought - wrongly - that Jesus was going to deliver them from the Roman yoke and restore freedom to the Jewish nation in the tradition of the conquering Maccabees. Maundy Thursday During the meal (the 'Last Supper') which Jesus shared with his disciples on the night he was arrested, he instituted the ceremony of taking bread and wine, symbolising his body and blood which were given for the sins of mankind. This is the sign of the New Covenant. (1 Cor.11: 23-26; Mat.26: 26-28) This happened at the beginning of 14th Nisan in the Jewish calendar, which was a Thursday night. Jesus' death was the fulfilment of the sacrifice of the Passover lamb, which was offered at the end of 14th Nisan (Ex.12: 6). The Jews ate the Passover meal 24 hours later, on the evening of 15th Nisan. Jesus died around 3pm the next afternoon, as lambs were beginning to be slaughtered for the Passover meal. Jesus was our Passover (1 Cor.5: 7). This oldest and most important Christian service is known as the 'Lord's Supper', 'Communion' (meaning, fellowship) or the 'Eucharist' (from the Greek word, eucharistoun, meaning 'thanksgiving'). Jesus' command that his disciples should 'do this in remembrance' of him is added in Luke 22: 19. This command was kept from earliest times, usually throughout the year. Acts 2: 42-47 appears to indicate that the earliest believers in Jerusalem met to ‘break bread' in communion on a daily basis. Writing around 55AD, the apostle Paul describes the church in Corinth keeping the Lord's Supper in 1 Cor.11: 23-26. He says in verse 26, 'For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup...', indicating flexibility as to how often they observed it. So, depending on the fellowship, the 'Lord's Supper', 'Communion' or the 'Eucharist' is kept daily, weekly, monthly or annually. However, Maundy Thursday is considered the annual commemoration of the Last Supper. The word, 'maundy' is thought derive from the Latin word, mandatum, meaning mandate or command. It is generally considered to refer to Jesus' command in John 13: 34, 'A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you'. It could be thought of, in modern English, as 'Love Command Thursday'. Good Friday All four gospel accounts tell us that the day on which Jesus was crucified was 'the preparation day' (Mat.27: 62; Mk.15: 42; Lk.23: 54; Jn.19: 31, 42). The preparation day never refers to an annual sabbath. It only applies to the weekly Sabbath. This is because food could not be prepared on a weekly Sabbath. So a preparation day was required. But food could be prepared on an annual Sabbath, so a preparation day was not necessary. For example, food could be prepared on the first Day of Unleavened Bread (Ex.12: 16), so it would not need to be preceded by a preparation day. As the preparation day preceded the weekly sabbath, Jesus was crucified on a Friday. It’s likely that the day on which Jesus was crucified is called, 'Good Friday' because it’s a corruption of 'God's Friday'. Holy Saturday This is the day that Jesus lay dead. Some churches reserve Holy Saturday as a time for baptism. Easter Sunday The Resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the most important day of the church year. The date varies from year to year because the First Council of Nicea (325 AD) decreed that the Resurrection would be celebrated on the Sunday morning following the first full moon after the spring equinox. Easter therefore became a 'moveable' feast which can occur as early as 22nd March or as late as 25th April. The origin of the word, 'Easter' is uncertain. Some scholars believe that it is derived from an old German word, ostern, meaning dawn or east - the time and place of the rising sun and also of the Resurrection. Many churches hold an Easter sunrise service. By Bill Allan. X-rays were discovered by William Rontgen from Germany, who died on 10th February 1923. The discovery of X-rays soon led to great developments in medicine. From that time on, doctors were able to see what was below the surface of the skin without needing to perform surgery to do so. This month’s personal reflection uses Psalms 138 and 139 to reflect on God seeing deep within us, always looking on us with love: Lord, lover of life, you know the
depths of my innermost self and you understand me. Adapted by Helen Little from ‘Praying each day of the year’, by Nicholas Hutchinson. Jesus Christ: a curriculum vitae Address: Ephesians 1: 20
Phone: Romans 10: 13 My name is Jesus. Many call me ‘Lord’. I've sent you my CV because I'd like to have the top management position in your heart. Qualifications: * I founded the earth and established
the heavens. (Proverbs 3: 19) Occupational Background: * I've only had one employer. (Luke 2:
49) Skills/Work Experience: * My skills include: empowering the poor
to be poor no more; healing the brokenhearted; setting the captives free;
healing the sick; restoring sight to the blind. (Luke 4: 18) Educational Background: * I encompass the entire breadth and
length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 2: 6) Major Accomplishments: * I was an active participant in the
greatest ever Summit Meeting. (Gen 1: 26) References: Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance. I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. I will properly direct your paths, (Proverbs 3: 5-6) and lead you into everlasting life. (John 6:47) When can I start? Time is of the essence. (Hebrews 3: 15) Pastor Prakash Raj. |
||
|
|
||
