Looking Back: Gaining Perspective During Lent By Wyatt Rousseau
What are we going to give up for Lent? Always a challenging questionâchocolate or alcohol?
But why not take something on? Like going to church on Wednesday evenings? Saint Michael and All Angels provided such a great opportunity with the âGoing Deeperâ Lenten Series. It gave my wife Carolyn and me an opportunity to grow our faith, as Lent is meant to do. We met new people, enjoyed old friends, received education, and worshiped in a meaningful way. Each session took us deeper into the matters of faith: initially in prayer, learning to respond to God, whether with words or silence; in Scripture, being reminded of the Anglican belief of Scripture, reason, and tradition; in fasting and simplicity, learning how fasting can foster a greater intimacy with God; and in recognizing the peace of the Sabbath with the importance of Surrender.
Our overall experience was one of thankfulness and peace. Each evening left us appreciating the priest who led the session and a feeling of peace as we left the Compline worship service.
Are we strengthened as disciples of Christ by this formation series? I think so. Each education portion from the priest was meaningful, and it offered us new insights into how we relate to Jesus. This is a measure of growth as a disciple.
Each lesson led us closer to God through the fellowship with other Saint Michaelites, the discussion sessions, the closing worship service, even the shared meal. I personally felt Father Grossoâs session on Going Deeper in Sabbath was most impactful. The fact that âpracticing Sabbath assumes meaningful workâ helped me get beyond busyness. Carolyn felt the Fasting session had the most meaning for her: that fasting was not only related to food, but also to meaningless, time-wasting habits or behaviors, and that fasting and simplicity are not just Lenten experiences.
**This article was written by Wyatt Rousseau and was featured in the 2024 Summer Archangel.