Read: Matthew 4:1-11

“Then, Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1 (NAB)

I see a stop sign posted at the end of the first verse of this passage. Stop. Why would the Spirit lead Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil? Does the Spirit lead us into places of temptation?

I am struck by how Jesus was led away from community, into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. It makes me think there are times when it is advantageous to let the Spirit lead us into isolated places where we have the time and quiet to confront the temptations which have power in our lives. Perhaps, temptations at their core are personal and can only be heard in the quietness of an isolated place and can only be discerned individually.

How can the community care for each other when members are led into these isolated places for internal reflection and wrestling? The community of faith can recognize and support this work as a way of following Jesus and we can pray for each other, that we will be able to recognize the problematic promises so often rooted in temptations and be able to dismantle them as Jesus so acutely modeled for us.

Lord of all good leading, lead us not only into the light but also into the darkness that we might gain a more discriminating hearing of our inner voices. Amen.
-Sharon Weldon

Read: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
As a time of prayer, fasting, and giving alms, Lent is a special time of contemplation about our individual relationship with God. We also have an opportunity for a special time of this contemplation on the subject of community. Ponder your relationship in giving.  Is your financial giving where it should be?  Most importantly, does it reflect your relationship with Christ?  And does your volunteering for St. Paul’s needs reflect that relationship as well? Pray about both areas and listen for God’s leading.-Barb Cheyney

Read: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

“Be careful not to do your deeds of righteousness before (others) to be seen by them …”

Our focus this year is on community.

I was about eight or nine and a group of us kids decided to “do a circus.” I don’t remember what inspired such a concept, but the half dozen of us spent about ten minutes preparing our acts (which seemed like more than enough time). When we were ready to do our circus on the lawn in front of the Thompson house, a crowd of parents, aunts, and cousins had assembled, as if by magic. We had only just discussed the circus and, VOILA – we had an audience! I remember nothing else about the event (I think I did some pratfalls, cartwheels, and possibly a tumble or two), but I remember we had an audience. I was thrilled and scared at the same time. Thrilled to be seen, and scared I’d never be good enough.

Jesus invites us to take a minute or so, examine our lives, and ask the question: Who is your audience? He warns us to be careful. “What crowd are you playing to?” he asks. Bear in mind that crowds come and go; people have short memories, and we’re only as good as our last performance. But there is One who keeps watch, who never misses a show, who stands beside us both on stage and behind the scenes and in the privacy of our dressing rooms. That One says, “You are marvelous. You improve every day. I’m so proud of you. You make me smile.”

When we pray, give, or cut back, we do so as part of a sacred community, performing before God who claps, whistles, and yells, “In you I am well-pleased!”

Let us pray. God, you are with us. You never fail to hear our words or see our deeds. Thank you for being ever-present in our lives. Here at the start of Lent, help us live for you, the only audience that counts. Amen.
-Fr. Keith Axberg

Read: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

In Sunday’s Gospel reading Jesus assumes as normative the practice of giving alms; giving in support of relief for poor persons. Here he insists that it be done in secret. I’ve often thought of this when attending charity auction dinners – especially church-based ones – in which the biggest givers, giving in public, are given the biggest applause and recognition. Hmmmm, I think when I’m sitting there. It seems we’re ignoring Jesus’ teaching.

Now to prayer. I struggled long with wanting to pray until I realized somewhere along the line that God loved me without reserve and without stinting. Freedom in prayer – even the desire to pray – comes with accepting that prayer is “allowing God to love you.” I learned that phrase from Fr. Thomas Keating of blessed memory, who taught me how to sit quietly with receptivity.

Now to fasting. I’m reminded by my monthly talks with my barber that curbing an appetite that I indulge unthinkingly and impulsively is a good thing for health and well-being. He’s done that sort of thing with obvious results. He’s a happier, healthier person who practices disciplines that are no doubt lengthening his life and putting a ready smile on his face. He inspires me. I can curb my appetite in some way this Lent, and so can you.

Holy One, you enjoy our keeping company with you in quiet, you enjoy our learning to savor the good things you give us to enjoy, and you enjoy our sharing in your generous heart for those in need. Help me this Lent to grow in my desire to give you such joy. Amen.
-Fr. Jonathan Weldon

Read: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

I find it amusing that the point of today’s Gospel reading is to not put on airs and make a huge deal about fasting, praying, and giving alms… and yet we are having ashes imposed on our foreheads as a sign of repentance for our sins. Oops! Maybe I should be rethinking the posting of the selfie with my #ashtag… I mean, a hashtag?

Still, getting together for worship as a community today is beneficial for us. The ashes are evidence of our acknowledgment of our sin, and doing it publicly keeps us humble. It would be easy to think that our sin is minor and doesn’t harm anyone… when the truth is that our sin harms other people and is a cancer growing in our soul. Some of us also need the reminder that *ALL* of us are sinners because it is also easy to beat up ourselves for our transgressions, no matter how minor, even after we have confessed them and been forgiven by God.

One of the things the priest will be doing during the service is to enjoin us to observe a holy Lent. Let us start by getting together today to acknowledge our sins… and the *GOOD NEWS* that we are *FORGIVEN* by God.

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, p. 264)
-Jen McCabe

Community has been something on my mind since college. I was part of a campus Christian group and a church that were very focused on it, and I feel like that was a good thing for me to figure out what I wanted in a parish after I graduated. I got married in seminary, went on Internship with my former husband, and then was a pastor’s wife through three parishes. The parishes all had their positive and negative points, and I feel like they each taught me something.

St. Paul’s seems to have the best qualities of all of those parishes. We jump in to help each other out in time of crisis, we all genuinely *LIKE* spending time with each other, and we are trying to make an effort to be engaged with the community. I had been thinking about doing last fall’s Advent devotional book on community, but I had to put those plans by the wayside. As I was thinking more about it in December, I realized that there are multiple aspects of community that could be explored, so our writing prompt turned into a “choose your own adventure” type of thing.

The plan became…

Each week has seven days based on the same passage with the exception of the first week (only four days) and Holy Week which has a different passage every day.

The name of this devotional book comes from the name of the tune that is used for the hymn ”Brethren We Have Met Together”. It is a shape-note hymn from the 19th century that implores the “brethren” and “sisters” to pray for and support each other. Every verse ends with a phrase like “holy manna scattered all around”. It has been stuck in my head the whole time I have been working on this devotional book, so I thought it was fitting to make it the title.

As always, we have a YouTube playlist of music that goes along with this devotional book. You can find it here.
 
Finally, this devotional book is dedicated to the memories of Dottie Evans and Charlotte Burnham, two special women who passed away this winter. Dottie was one of the first two people to welcome me to St. Paul’s when I walked in the door in June 2016, and she was my cheerleader for everything. Charlotte was one of our Zoom parishioners, and I am incredibly grateful that she offered to be one of my devotion writers for this book. Both of them will very much be missed.

Blessings to you this Lent!
-Jen McCabe