Dear Friends in Christ,
During Advent of last year I came across a Lenten wreath. It seems to come from the Presbyterian tradition and is very similar to Tenebrae. Six or seven candles are lit, with one extinguished each week as Lent progresses. Diminishing light on the way to the cross of Good Friday.
There are a few examples online and one was offered via Amazon for over $50.00, far too much! I decided to make my own and in a local store discovered the perfect wooden candle ring that holds five candles, one for each Sunday in Lent. A wooden base provides space for small rocks and a spinning tealight candle holder with butterflies placed in the center. (One was also made for Sunday morning Christian formation with a small cross in the center instead of butterflies.)
The Lenten wreath began on Ash Wednesday and after some thought, I chose to maintain the Advent practice of lighting a candle each week instead of extinguishing them. If Lenten disciplines have been maintained, enlightenment is sure to follow. Gazing at the Lenten wreath while meditating is one Lenten discipline that has enhanced this season. The white candle with spinning butterflies represents a malleable chrysalis. Churning occurs in the absence of light, but new light and life is born a butterfly. The season of Lent provides just enough time to start a new habit, prune that which is unhealthy, and make space for the Resurrection.
Today is the feast of the Annunciation, a reminder of God’s providence which is not confined to the biblical text.
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.”
Luke 1:26-38 (NRSV)
“For nothing will be impossible for God.”
Therefore, it is not too late to observe “a holy Lent by self-examination and repentance; by prayer fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word.” (BCP)
The video shows my Lenten wreath. The fifth candle, barely noticeable on the backside will be lit tomorrow, the fifth Sunday in Lent. There is real-time speed at the beginning and end, but slow motion in-between. The latter represents the intentionality of the season, saying yes to God by stepping away from the world’s carousel and into the light of Christ. It is not too late.
With prayers for a meaningful Lent and Holy Week,
Angela+
Karen Dickey was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina and has called Atlanta home for the last 28 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina A&T State University and her master’s degree in accounting from Keller Graduate School of Business. Karen has been involved in church accounting for the last 10 years. She considers church accounting “her ministry” where her skill, working with God’s people, and passion for social justice intersects. Her hope is to use her gifts to enhance St. Bartholomew’s community centered mission.
Maquita is a published storyteller with a deeply rooted dedication to truth-seeking and narrative change work in overlooked communities. Maquita has seven years of experience in marketing and content communications for the financial, higher education, and government sectors. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in Journalism. She was the editor-in-chief of two teen magazines, the author of three books, and now ghostwrites and documents some of life’s precious moments through video, podcast, and an online journal.
My name is Rev. Shirley Porter. I am a Priest Associate at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church at the invite of the Rector, Rev. Dr. Angela Shepherd, and I look forward to meeting with you!
Hello, I’m Kristi Painter is St. Bartholomew’s Parish Administrator. Kristi has a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology and a degree in Industrial Engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology. She recently moved back to Atlanta after spending several years in Philadelphia working as a United Methodist young adult missionary with a homeless services organization. Her calling is assisting congregations in living out their faith through both service and advocacy.
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The Rev. Canon Dr. Angela F. Shepherd 
Debbie Kerr 
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The Rev. Dr. Stefanie Taylor
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