Let Us Keep The Feast:
living the Church Year at home (Epiphany & Lent) Edited by Jessica
Snell
This slender volume on Epiphany and Lent is a welcome addition
to the literature we have on these pivotal times in the church calendar. Jessica Snell alongside Anna Moseley Gissing
and Cate MacDonald have put together some beautiful chapters on the meaning, significance,
and some practical suggestions for celebrating Epiphany and Lent. I was particularly happy that these talented
women spoke about specific ways the family can celebrate these events by acting
out the stories, completing a recipe, and putting some artistic touches to the
event. Overall, I think this book is good
introductions to the reason Christians celebrate Epiphany and Lent and also
some practical ways we can do so.
In the introduction Jessica gives us a bit of history behind
the practice of the church year. She
writes, “Many of the traditions surrounding the Christian church year developed
in periods of history when most of the population was illiterate. The pageantry and pantomime of the church
year helped people who couldn’t read the Bible remember the stories of Jesus.”
(viii) Now that we have the Bible doesn’t
mean that we discard the church traditions that were once such a part of
worship. Anytime we can alert ourselves
to multi-sensory approaches to the gospel stories, we remember what’s it’s like
to experience faith as a child.
Recreating the story of the magi by having our children dress up, travel
like they would the magi, and follow the star is a great way to visualize the
gospel story in a very concrete way (13,17).
I really thought Cate’s idea concerning young children and Lent was very
good in that ‘you are encouraging them to understand the dual nature of
fasting: “putting off” is only good when we take on something better.”
(36) Physically helping a sibling or
grandparent, memorizing Scripture, or helping clean add a sense of
accomplishment and service to their hearts can do more than just avoiding a
certain behavior.
Anna bridges the gap between our knowledge of Christmas and
Easter by writing, “Indeed, Epiphany connects Christ’s birth and incarnation,
celebrated at Christmas, with His preparation for death on the cross.” (4) The ministry, growth, and development of
Jesus is important for this season because it allows God’s light to shine forth
in his Son and this is certainly a reminder of the gospel we hold dear (7). Anna mentions that one convention of Epiphany
is the blessing of homes where a 20CMB14 would be written as a reference for “May
Christ bless this house in 2014” over the doorway. This simple touch may give the inhabitants a
clear reminder that asking for God’s blessing to those who enter connects them
to the story of Jesus told in the gospels.
Cate hearkens us back to the ear-splitting words of the
prophet Isaiah when she writes, “It appears in this passage that the Lord has
chosen a fast that is, in a way, no fast at all. He does not tell us what to give up, but instead
what to do. The fast the Lord has choses
is charity, justice, and generosity.” (30, based upon Isaiah 58:6-9) We desire to hear God speak through fasting,
especially in Lent, so that we might learn to act justly and mercifully each
day. Cate also gives an ear to the
corporate nature of Lent in which the church gives its members reminders to ‘stay
dedicated to your discipline.’ (32) The
fast might not be from food, for in our culture a media fast might be more
appropriate. Yet, the fast is designed
to attune our hearts and minds to God, knowing that the battle with evil and
sin is not finished.
I really appreciated this book and will use many of the
ideas at home and in church.
Thanks to Doulos Resources for the copy of this book in
exchange for a honest review.
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