Grace Cathedral

Dear Friends,

As we make our way through this forty-day Lenten journey, I’m reminded of how this season invites us into a different rhythm—one that deepens our awareness of God’s presence in our lives. This path toward Easter offers us sacred space to reflect, renew, and realign our hearts with the divine love that sustains us.

Lent echoes Jesus’ time in the wilderness—those forty days of prayer and fasting that prepared him for his ministry. While the season has evolved over centuries from its early Christian origins, its essence remains the same: a time set apart for spiritual renewal through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

What makes Lent particularly meaningful is how it grounds us in embodied spiritual practices. Our liturgies during this season—with their more contemplative tone and moments of silence —invite us to participate with our whole selves. When we pray the Great Litany, process with palms, or wash one another’s feet during Holy Week, we’re not merely observing rituals but engaging our bodies in ancient practices that connect us to Christ’s journey and to countless faithful who have walked this path before us.

The simple act of marking the sign of the cross on our foreheads or tracing it over our hearts during prayer can serve as a physical reminder of who we are and the love that claims us. These embodied practices bypass our intellectual defenses and speak directly to our hearts, often in ways words alone cannot reach.

The Lenten liturgies also create a container for our individual spiritual practices. As we gather each Sunday, the familiar rhythm of scripture, prayer, and gathering around the table anchors us in the community while nurturing our personal devotion. The psalms we recite give voice to the full range of human emotion—from lament to praise—offering language for our own spiritual journeys. The scripture readings unfold the story of salvation, reminding us that our individual stories are part of God’s greater narrative.

Prayer takes on special significance during Lent. Whether through the Daily Office, contemplative practices like centering prayer, or praying with scripture through Lectio Divina, we create intentional space to listen for God’s voice. Many find that keeping a prayer journal during Lent helps track the movement of the Spirit in their lives. Others discover that walking a labyrinth or praying through artwork opens new channels of communication with the divine.

I encourage you to consider how you might incorporate liturgical rhythms into your daily life this Lent. Perhaps begin each weekday with Morning Prayer. Set aside a few minutes at noon on Wednesdays to pray for those in need at our midweek eucharist. Pray the psalms with us at Thursday’s Choral Evensong or break bread on Sunday.

As we journey through these forty days together, may our participation in these ancient practices open us more fully to God’s transforming love. May the rhythms of prayer and our liturgy ground us in the present moment, even as they draw us toward the joy of Easter morning.

Peace,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Joe Williams
Succentor