Observing Lent
Early Christians observed "a season of penitence and fasting" in preparation for Easter. This season, now known as Lent (from an Old English word meaning "spring," the time of lengthening days) is an especially important for converts to the faith who were preparing for baptism, and for those guilty of notorious sins who were being restored to the Christian assembly. Joining with them, all Christians are invited "to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word" (BCP, p. 265). Here are some resources that will help you in observing a Holy Lent:
River Through the Desert is a 6 week video and readings series based on the Book by Dean Richard Sewell, the Dean of St. George's College in Jerusalem. The College has happily let us share this wonderful journey through Lent and we hope you enjoy it. You can purchase of copy of Dean Richard's book on Amazon, if you would like to, by using this link.
WEEK ONE The Desert https://youtu.be/bI99-Sj7_jY?si=pCDYTh3hLmVowdTV
WEEK TWO The Water Well https://youtu.be/7p3qlBwTuNY?si=ulu7HxgklX6z0DLX
WEEK THREE The Mountain https://youtu.be/IfrjW-T3As4?si=EwFMarKAW80XUYau
WEEK FOUR The Sea https://youtu.be/mgTU1dburBI?si=Bwf4gKVQfkeFyKul
WEEK FIVE The Road https://youtu.be/hrV7kxjPJMg?si=IHqEwcjT1ORkxLQo
WEEK SIX The Garden https://youtu.be/459aM2ApC8E?si=ayHnwO-vrgU4Lwza
PILGRIM JOURNEY
Video one https://youtu.be/5KwXs9fG3zk?si=xmJgBZ7su7PuCeYo Arrival
Pilgrim Journey: Arrival
From home to the Holy Land, arriving in Jerusalem involves a series of passageways, doorways, and thresholds. In the first of the three-part series, The Pilgrim Journey, Course Director Rodney Aist discusses two theories incorporating the language of thresholds that chart the transformative nature of the pilgrim journey--the theory of liminality and the hero's journey. In the second part of the video, Dean Richard Sewell reflects upon the importance of Jerusalem for Christian pilgrims outside Damascus Gate, which, like St George's College, serves as a Gateway for arriving pilgrims.
Video two https://youtu.be/X5QM1SRi1kc?si=0f6grgWoRL9nOsOx Sojourn
Pilgrim Journey: Sojourn
Upon arrival in Jerusalem, pilgrims set about learning the 'rules of the special world' -- to use the language of the hero's journey -- as they begin their sojourn in the Land of the Holy One. In the second of the three-part series, The Pilgrim Journey, Course Director Rodney Aist discusses some tools for engaging the Living Stones of the Holy Land, including the theory of cultural humility, how to listen to the stories of others (avoiding narrative takeover and narrative tapout), and recognizing the nature of the narrative fallacy. Focusing on moments of sojourn in our lives, Dean Richard Sewell reflects upon Luke's account of Mary's sojourn at the house of Elizabeth outside the Church of the Visitation in Ein Kerem.
Video three https://youtu.be/KolQxj-EFyE?si=Os7UQg3YITjUogAy Return
Pilgrim Journey: Return
The ultimate purpose of Holy Land pilgrimage is to return home -- challenged, transformed and renewed -- where the Christian journey continues. The process of returning home to the ordinary world (reaggregation) involves closure and departure from the people and places of the Holy Land as well as intentional reflection on the experience. In the third of the three-part series, The Pilgrim Journey, Course Director Rodney Aist discusses debriefing Holy Land travel, the importance of language, common emotions, and the tensional, unfinished nature of Christian pilgrimage. Dean Richard Sewell concludes the series with a reflection on the Emmaus story, the resurrection encounter with Jesus that culminates a study pilgrimage at St George's College.
