A users' guide for Episcopalians

The word “Lent” comes from an Old English word meaning “spring,” the time of the lengthening of the days. Even as we Christians celebrate this time of fasting and penitence, there is joy all around us as trees bud, grass sprouts, and nature springs to life once again—just as on Easter Sunday, Christ returns from the dead to new life.

NEW: WWW.BLOGGING-THOMAS.ORG is a new blog being brought to you by the Christian Education and Formation Committee. The committee chair, Wayne Floyd, also keeps a daily blog of spiritual and theological reflections at www.SoulJournal.net.

These food purchases pictured were made with the unused funds from the 2007 House of Ruth allocation. Over $245 was spent on jam, spices, fruit salad, tuna, cereal, lunch meat, peanut butter, tea bags, lemonade, ketchup and cooking oil – lots of oil!

A users' guide for Episcopalians

Today marks the halfway point (more or less) of the season of Lent. The length of this season—40 days—is a symbolic reflection of a number of Biblical stories, including the 40 days Noah spent on the ark, the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt, and the 40 days Christ spent fasting and praying in the desert before beginning his public ministry. All of those stories revolve around a time of waiting and preparation, and so does the season of Lent as we wait and prepare for Easter.

I have been a practicing Episcopalian for more than a quarter of a century and an active member of St. Thomas for roughly two years, a parish I strongly feel to be my spiritual home. At St. Thomas I have served on the Stewardship Committee, Flower Guild and as a Eucharistic Minister.

Originally from western Pennsylvania, Tim Elig has lived in the D.C. area for a quarter of a century. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.A. in psychology from Gannon University. He has taught numerous psychology courses and is published in a variety of journals.