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