Intentional Penitents

Several years ago now, as a seminary student, several of us were preparing for a Mission Trip to Marsabit, Kenya. Having little clue about what culture shock was about, our leader taught us a valuable lesson on how we should approach a cross-cultural experience. He called it Entry Posture. This concept essentially means you don't just get off the plane, roll-up your sleeves and get to work. You need to create time for rest. Then you need time to encounter the people, places, and how daily life operates to get a sense of the culture - and the difference from your own. This is entry posture: intentionally transitioning into another culture.

The same goes for entering into a Holy Lent. I spoke about a Christian's entry posture in my Sermon last Sunday. Jesus said "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23). And as true followers of Christ this means we need to intentionally prepare to enter into this Penitential season of Lent. There are 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday when intentional penitents enter into a time of self-examination and self-discipline.

Here are a few ways to be intentional penitents in the season of Lent and beyond.
Remember: Boundaries, Focus, and Love.
1) Establish boundaries and pray. Look at your daily schedule and make time for God. Find a quiet place away from typical distractions and pray using the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication).
2) Maintain focus. Spiritual disciplines include devotionals, journaling, Bible Study, and prayer. Lenten Devotionals (please pick-up in the office or Ash Wednesday Service - one per family please) are available and will be referred to often in Adult Sunday School and Preaching.
Women's and Men's weekly Bible Studies are a great way to share as well as Right Now Media has a plethora of Bible Studies and other media resources - why not show a video and discuss over dinner?
3) Let God (who is Love) be God. Let God be God. The Love of God enters into the heart of anyone who has intentionally talked to God. The closer we come to the Lord we are led to deep repentance. We begin to deny ourselves meaning our unhealthy and sometimes destructive desires and behaviors. We confess we are not able to save ourselves from taking wrong turns in life and making bad decisions that hurt us and others we love.

God could have been done with us long ago, but instead he chose to give us new and un-ending life through His Son. When we come to the end of ourselves and give our whole life to God, we become more and more like Jesus. Let God in Christ be your friend, your Savior, your King. His power is made perfect in weakness. Ask God for His spiritual power to be made manifest in your life today.

We are all headed in a direction and will come to a crossroad sooner rather than later. Let us intentionally pick up our own cross, and walk with Jesus. He intentionally carried his Cross and died for us so that we might become his living witnesses until the day we meet him face to face.

Remember, the best is yet to come!

Rags+

The Rev. E. Ragland Coxe
Rector, Saint Matthew's Church 

March 5, 2025 Ash Wednesday

12:00 Noon- Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

6:30 PM- Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes

March 9, 2025 First Sunday in Lent

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist(In Church)

9:45 AM  Sunday School

10:30 AM Children’s Chapel

11:00 AM Holy Eucharist (In Church and Virtual)

March 12, 2025 The Wednesday in the First Week of Lent

5:30 PM-7:00 PM Lenten Series #1**

March 16, 2025 Second Sunday in Lent

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist(In Church)

9:45 AM  Sunday School

10:30 AM Children’s Chapel

11:00 AM Holy Eucharist (In Church and Virtual)

March 19, 2025 The Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent

5:30 PM-7:00 PM Lenten Series #2**

March 23, 2025 Third Sunday in Lent

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist(In Church)

9:45 AM  Sunday School

10:30 AM Children’s Chapel

11:00 AM Holy Eucharist (In Church and Virtual)

March 26, 2025 The Wednesday in the Third Week of Lent

5:30 PM-7:00 PM Lenten Series #3**

March 30, 2025 Fourth Sunday in Lent

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist(In Church)

9:45 AM  Sunday School

10:30 AM Children’s Chapel

11:00 AM Holy Eucharist (In Church and Virtual)

April 2, 2025 The Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Lent

5:30 PM-7:00 PM Lenten Series #4**

April 6,2025 Fifth Sunday in Lent

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist(In Church)

9:45 AM  Sunday School

10:30 AM Children’s Chapel

11:00 AM Holy Eucharist (In Church and Virtual)

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