Message of the Week
Karole Badgley, Director of Music Ministry
THE SENSES OF LENT Our senses—each day, we consciously/unconsciously experience life through sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. A myriad of options await us if we are only open to receiving.
The 40 days—6 weeks of Lent: this Journey of Lent. What might your senses depict of a change in this season? Consider visually the altar—purple paraments—a color symbolizing penitence, forgiveness. Aurally—absent are the service music and hymns of praise from worship, replaced by words and songs focusing on our sinful nature and the practice of repentance. Individually, all senses might note a range differences—from subtle to stark– in this Liturgical season.
Last Sunday afternoon, an invitation to join in exploring the senses of Lent was accepted by a group which gathered in the Sanctuary. Through prayer, poetry, and contemplative drumming rhythms, our senses were attuned to the spoken Word, the sung Word, and even silence in that hour within this sacred space.
The senses of Lent…how are you experiencing and living in this season? “Christ’s Cross over this face, and thus over my ear. Christ’s Cross over these eyes… This mouth… This throat… The back of this head… This side… To accompany before me… To accompany behind me… Christ’s Cross to meet every difficulty Born on the hollow and on hill… Christ’s Cross over my community. Christ’s Cross over my church. Christ’s Cross in the next world. Christ’s Cross in this world.”
10th Century Poem from The Celtic Way of Prayer, Esther De Waal