What do you do during Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter? For Christians, Lent is the time to remember the 40 days that Jesus spent in the Wilderness, facing challenge and temptation. It is a time to reflect on God’s purpose for our life.
In recent years, many Christians have adapted this noble tradition to become more mindful of – and reduce - their impacts on Creation.
Prayer, penance, repentance of sins, atonement, giving to others (almsgiving) and self-denial are ways that help Christians remember this time in Jesus’ life and wait and prepare for the celebration of His resurrection at Easter.
Traditionally, Christians have practised fasting and abstinence from festivities during Lent, just as Jesus did in the Wilderness. These practices feature in. For example, Muslims will fast during Ramadan. They will also practice self-restraint in body and mind. This fasting, from dawn until sunset, is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice – just as numerous Christians do in Lent.
A lot of people use this period of fasting as a way to trial or begin a positive change to how they live some aspect of their lives.
In recent years, many Christians have adapted this noble tradition to become more mindful of – and reduce - their impacts on Creation.
Anglicans have been at the forefront of this move. A Carbon Fast challenge for Lent originated in England around 2014.
Carbon Fast options to try
From Climate Stewards:
https://climatestewards.org/resources/carbon-fast-for-lent/
World Council of Churches Global Systemic Carbon Fast:
https://www.oikoumene.org/events/global-systemic-carbon-fast-a-faith-rooted-journey-through-lent
Lent Carbon Fast Prayer
There is no better time than now to try new ways of living that reduce our adverse impact on Creation. Here is a prayer from the other side of the world to get us going:
Most loving Creator God
who has given us a world full of delights and wonders;
As we prepare with the grace of self-sacrifice
and self discipline for the great festival of Easter
remind us how to treasure these gifts
and to use them with care;
So that all may equally share in the earth’s bounty
and all creation may be restored to your image
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
written by ARRCC member, Gill King
