Well February’s arrived. How are doing with your new year resolutions? Mmm, same here. One of the goals I had back in January was to read a book a month. As I write this, I’m on page 44 of a 463 page novel, my first book of the year. So progress is slow. I’m already playing catch up. In a delusional attempt to correct our shortcomings, over half of adults in the UK set these often unrealistic goals and by the end of New Year’s Day 520,000 of us will have already given up. But all is not lost. There’s always Lent…
Whether you’re a Christian or not, Lent serves as a reminder to set new goals or perhaps resurrect those still floating around in our conscience from New Year. The good thing about Lent, of course, is it has a 40-day shelf life that starts after Shrove Tuesday and ends at Easter Day. Conveniently cocooned between treat foods of pancakes and chocolate eggs, which makes it easier for those making dietary goals, there’s really no excuse not to stick to your Lent promises. And while ‘chocolate’ was one of the most popular choices of what to give up for Lent in 2015, according to Twitter, there are many other great ideas of things to give up. After all, the idea, according to the Christian calendar, is that by observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus’ sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.
I wonder if some of us wouldn’t benefit from a withdrawal from social media or perhaps just the amount of time we spend on our phones? Or how about getting up off the sofa and getting into the great outdoors? Life is short after all, and with that in mind maybe we’ve got this whole ‘giving up’ thing all wrong.
There are many gestures and random acts of kindness that supercede any of the bad habits we like to give up and call a ‘sacrifice’ just because it’s Lent. What if you could give up chocolate and give the money to your favourite charity? What if you could turn the TV off and spend more time helping your neighbour? What if Lent was a preparation for a lifetime of big-heartedness that reflected God’s amazing generosity? Well, that’s where 40acts – the generosity challenge from Christian charity Stewardship – comes in. 40acts invites you to take part in 40 days of giving back, doing good and living generously. Individuals are encouraged to take a daily challenge, 40 nudges in a generous direction, alongside 40 blogs to read and ponder.
Why not take up the challenge this year and sign up at www.40acts.org.uk/ so that Lent becomes a time to ‘give out’ rather than ‘give up’?
SUNDAY 7th FEBRUARY
10.30am
TOGETHER ON SUNDAY SERVICE
For all the family.
6.30pm
Breaking of Bread Service
SUNDAY 14th, 21st & 28th FEBRUARY
10.30am
Morning Worship Services
& Sunday Club
Holy Communion Service
every Thursday morning,
9.15 to 9.45am in the Church Centre
CoffeeStop
10am to 12noon
every Monday Morning.
We have mid-week groups for children of all ages, as well as a Women’s Group and Friendship Club for older people. All of our main services are in the Community Centre Hall.
For further details please contact Jackie Tooley on
01284 703705 or email: office@southgatechurch.org.uk
