Lent is the season of 40 days leading up to Easter. This season is a time of intentional reflection when we make space in our lives for God to change our hearts in preparation for the new life that awaits us in the resurrection we celebrate at Easter. This year we will share brief videos in a series called Staying Grounded in Times of Chaos. Those who have gone before us have lived in chaotic times as well and passed wisdom on to us as we follow Christ today. In this series, voices across our diocese will share practices from our tradition that help us live out our faith when the world feels crazy.
To begin watching the series, please click on the titles below. A new video will be released every Wednesday between now and Holy Week.
Part One: Think Small About the Possibilities of How We Gather
We begin this week with Brendon Neilson, Executive Director. Brendon offers us the opportunity to Think Small About the Possibilities of How We Gather.
Part Two: A Grounding Prayer Practice
For Part Two of our Staying Ground in Times of Chaos lenten series, The Rev. Kirsten Evenden shares a Grounding Prayer Practice.
Part Three: The Daily Office
Today's video is by Jenny Replogle, Canon for Lay-led Parishes and Parishes-in-Transition. She speaks about the Daily Office, a core practice of the Anglican tradition. One great tool for praying the Daily Office is the Venite app which is available for mobile devices or HERE.
Part Four: The Examen
In today’s video, Craig Hiebert speaks about the Ignatian Examen, the practice of prayerfully paying attention. In the video, Craig mentions the ‘Reimagining the Examen’ app (and the book Reimagining the Ignatian Examen, by Mark Thibodeaux [Loyola Press, 2015]), and Pray As You Go - both great ways into the Examen.
Part Five: Compline
In this video, Rebecca Yeo (Spiritual Care Provider/Chaplain at the University of Victoria) talks about Compline, or night prayer, as a daily practice of "saying goodnight to God." Rebecca's favourite resources for praying Compline are Mission St. Clare, Night Prayer from the Church of England, and the Supplementary to the BAS.
Part Six: Signs of Joy
In our final episode of Staying Grounded in Times of Chaos, Dean Jonathan Thomas from Christ Church Cathedral shares his episode, Signs of Joy. The proper preface for eucharistic prayer during Lent asks us to “cleanse your hearts and prepare with joy for the coming of the pascal feast.” The Very Rev. Thomas reminds us that Lent is not the season that gets us ready for Good Friday but rather it is the season that prepares us to celebrate Easter. Where the world today induces anxiety, he encourages us to push back with intentional acts of joy and signs of resurrection hope.