I love teens. Years ago as a youth minister two of them walked into my office and greeted me with the words of this post’s subject line. Whether they were joking or serious or a bit of both it led to a great conversation about Lent, a time period that begins next Wednesday. I want to tell you a bit about Lent and what it has to do with chocolate. I’ll even give you a spiritually enriching excuse to eat some.
Since very early in Christian history churches recognized the time before Easter as a season of preparation. New believers would learn about the faith and then be baptized and join the church at Easter. Existing believers would prepare for the Easter celebration by exercising spiritual disciplines like fasting. Over time the season of preparation came to begin on “Ash Wednesday” (a day to remember our mortality – think “ashes to ashes, dust to dust”) and ran for the 40 days that led up to Easter, not counting the Sundays.
In modern times some people still fast during Lent as a way spiritually to prepare for Easter. Others take on a different spiritual discipline like reading their Bible or praying daily. The teens that came into my office had taken on a modified fast where they had committed not to eat chocolate during Lent.
Spiritual disciplines during Lent are intended to be a means to drawing closer to God, not an end in themselves. So, I could explain to my teens that breaking their chocolate fast was a lapse in a discipline they had chosen, but it wasn’t a sin against God.
I encourage you to take on a spiritual discipline during Lent this year. I’ll be reading the Pauses for Lent book that’ll be available outside the Worship and Arts Center on Sunday. It has a word, a Bible verse, and a short paragraph to read each day. Some people will choose to fast during Lent by giving up a type of food or certain meals. Some people take the money they would have spent on food and give it to support a ministry of the church or a charity. All of these spiritual disciplines help us connect more deeply with God and enhance the celebration of Easter.
So how could eating chocolate help you connect with God? Take a single piece and savor it. While you’re savoring it thank God for the blessing of chocolate and for as many other blessings you can name that you’ve enjoyed in the last 24 hours. Finish off your piece of chocolate and your prayer by asking God to help you notice each blessing you experience in the coming 24 hours. Repeat each day during Lent!
You can begin Lent with any of three special worship services next week on Ash Wednesday (March 1st). They’ll last about 30 minutes and include the option to have ashes placed on your head or hand in the sign of the cross as a reminder to connect with God:
- 6:30 a.m. in the chapel
- 12:00 p.m. in the Worship and Arts Center with lunch available after for $10 (no reservation needed)
- 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary
More details and other ways to draw closer to God during Lent at https://www.fumcr.com/lent.
I hope to see you this Sunday for Access as we celebrate the first baptism in our new facilities, worship God through music, prayer, giving, and scripture, and conclude our “God is…” sermon series with “God is a Knock at the Door.”
In Christ,
Rich
Rich Rindfuss
Access Pastor
First United Methodist Church Richardson