The Moderator of the General Assembly is encouraging the Church to explore the meaning of Lent through a series of specially commissioned daily articles which start on the first day of Lent, and continue throughout the 40 days. Here, Rt Rev John Chalmers explains his initiative, which he is undertaking in partnership with Christian Aid.
“Following up on the successful Advent Reflections series on the Church website in the run up to Christmas, I have commissioned another list of friends to contribute to further series of reflections during the period of Lent. This time I am delighted that we are collaborating with Christian Aid in order to bring a sharper edge to our Lenten journey.”
Count Your Blessings
Lent is a time when churches and individual Christians remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry. Lent is also an invitation to us to reflect on a central aspect of Christian faith, that of gospel, good news to the poor (the word ‘gospel’ means ‘good news’). It is a time to count our blessings.
Each year, Christian Aid invites supporters to give thanks for the blessings in our lives. The thought-provoking Count Your Blessings calendar or phone app can be accessed at the Christian Aid website.
This Lent, the Church of Scotland in partnership with Christian Aid, and on the initiative of the Moderator, is offering the opportunity to go deeper in our Lenten journey and explore the themes of faith and action that our faith in Jesus directs us to. These specially-commissioned daily reflections will inspire us to give, act and pray to bring justice to our world and change the lives of people living in poverty across the globe.
How to count your blessings
- Read the daily reflection on the Church of Scotland Website
- Count your blessings and record your response
- Pray for the people, countries and issues mentioned here and give thanks for the blessings in your life
- After Easter, send your total gift to Christian Aid with the form provided. You can also donate online at christianaid.org.uk/lent
