STATIONS OF THE CROSS . . . Our devotional practice for Lent this year will be the Way of The Stations of the Cross (Way of the Cross). We will meet at 6 PM on the following Fridays during the season of Lent. 

March 7, 14, 21 and 28
April 4 and 11 

The Stations of the Cross imitates the practice of visiting the places of Jesus' Passion in the Holy Land by early Christian pilgrims. The first stations outside Palestine were built in Bologna in the fifth century. This devotion was encouraged by the Franciscans, and it became common in the fifteenth century. The number of stations for prayer and meditation in the Way of the Cross has varied, but it  typically includes fourteen stations. We will process and pray at the following stations depicted in the church:  1) Jesus is condemned to death; 2) Jesus takes up his cross; 3) Jesus falls the first time; 4) Jesus meets his afflicted mother; 5) the cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene; 6) a woman wipes the face of Jesus; 7) Jesus falls a second time; 8) Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem; 9) Jesus falls a third time; 10) Jesus is stripped of his garments; 11) Jesus is nailed to the cross; 12) Jesus dies on the cross; 13) the body of Jesus is placed in the arms of his mother; 14) Jesus is laid in the tomb. (Adapted from The Book of Occasional Services)

FASTING DURING LENT . . . There are no set rules that govern how Episcopalians are expected to fast and different groups and communities have followed different practices. Fasting consists of abstaining from certain types of food (in the Christian tradition that has most commonly been meat) and reducing the amount of food one typically eats. Reducing water intake on a day of fasting is discouraged, and there aren't any hard rules on other liquids like coffee and tea. Saint Augustine’s Prayer Book, a devotional manual held in high regard among Anglo-Catholics in the Episcopal Church, suggests fasting as “not more than a light breakfast, one full meal, and one-half meal...” The Book of Common Prayer also designates other “Days of Special Devotion” and “Days of Optional Observance” as found on pages 17-18 if one chooses to take on a greater practice of fasting. Fasting serves a number of different functions, but the primary goals are to cultivate self-discipline and self-mastery, and ultimately, to ever deepen our relationship and devotion to God. It is always a good idea to talk to your doctor before fasting if you are over the age of 65 or have certain health conditions. A good Lenten practice for children is to abstain from meat or another type of food on Fridays.
 

RECONCILIATION OF A PENITENT . . . The Episcopal Church offers a sacramental rite in which those who repent may confess their sins to God in the presence of a priest and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution (BCP, p. 861). It is also called penance and confession. Please contact Father Anthony if you would like to receive this sacrament of the Church, or if you have any questions.