Lent at Atonement

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent during which we are invited to a time of examination and repentance, to prayer, fasting and self-denial, and the reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word. During these last days leading up to Lent, I invite you to take stock of your spiritual life and formulate a holy Lenten discipline.

What spiritual practice will you take on? From what food or drink or behavior will you abstain? In what way will you provide for those in need?

Lent is a deeply rewarding time of spiritual renewal that makes the joyful celebration of Our Lord's resurrection at Easter all the more meaningful. It is my prayer that each of us will prayerfully consider these three pillars of Lent and intentionally engage each of them in some way. I’ve provided a list of ideas, suggestions, and resources for your consideration below.

God’s peace,

Father Charles

Fasting

“Why do we fast? For fasting to make any sense, it must have a constructive purpose and be defined in positive, not negative terms. Put most simply, fasting is about freedom. Fasting frees us from slavery. Fasting is not about "giving something up", fasting is about freeing ourselves from the control of outside forces and temptations. Fasting can even be about saying no to ourselves when we have surrendered control of our lives to bad habits and dependencies. Fasting is about taking control of those things that threaten to control us. Some people suffer from addictions that rob them of their freedom. But for many who are not clinically addicted, life still has many distractions that take control of our lives in subtle ways." Read more here.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are designated days of fasting. (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 17) Historically, fasting means intentionally not eating food. Fasting can also be practiced at other times during Lent, of course.
The other weekdays of Lent and Holy Week (as well as every Friday during the year!) are to be observed by “special acts of discipline and self-denial.” (BCP, pg. 17) Historically, the primary “special act” on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays in Lent was abstinence (not sexual abstinence, abstinence from eating meat).
Each Christian may also choose to abstain from some eating some other item of food or abstain from engaging in some other behavior or practice, as part of their Lenten devotion.

Prayer

Consider participating in Stations of the Cross and Benediction at 7 p.m. on the Fridays in Lent beginning Feb 23.
In addition to Sunday, attend one or more of our daily Masses. Mass is offered in the morning, noon, and evening on varying days during the week so that everyone has an opportunity to participate.
Pray Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer or both using the Daily Office. You can also join virtual Morning Prayer at Atonement each day at 8:30 a.m., and Evening Prayer on Tuesdays only.
Join us at 9:30 on Saturdays to pray the Holy Rosary together, immediately followed by a Healing Mass at 10 a.m..
Consider joining us virtually for a Lenten Bible Study led by Charles Bonilla on the Thursdays in Lent beginning on Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m.

Almsgiving

Prayer helps us re-frame our vision to see the world as God see it. Self-denial frees us from being enslaved to our own desires. All of this gives us time and energy to spend serving the needy.

Consider donating canned goods and/or a monetary donation to Care for Real for Souper Bowl of Caring this Sun., Feb. 11 at church.
Consider volunteering with Care for Friends for the hot meal served at Atonement on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Contact Marcos for more information.
Participate in a fundraiser for Sarah's Circle called A Mile in Her Shoes this February. Sarah's Circle provides a full continuum of services for women, including housing, life necessities, and supportive services, to help them permanently end their homelessness. You may donate as part of the Atonement team by clicking here. In addition to donating, parishioners can sign up to walk on Feb. 25 and hear about the stories of women who have experienced homelessness.