24 hour fast to begin historic year for Christians across Devon
The 1100th anniversary celebrations of the Diocese of Exeter will begin with a 24 hour fast by the Bishop, the Rt Revd Michael Langrish.
The Bishop will begin his fast on Friday evening (27 February) by serving at the open-air barbeque outside Exeter Cathedral, organised by Nightchurch. The barbeque attracts a diverse community, including young people and some who are homeless.
The Cathedral will be open from 7am to 7pm on Saturday for all those who would like to join the Bishop in his fast, or listen to the hourly meditations. Meditations will be held on the hour every hour, with Bishop Michael leading the reflections at 11am and 1pm.
Bishop Michael has invited all Christians to join him in a period of fasting this Lent.
Bishop Michael said: 'In this anniversary year, Lent is a time of looking back and remembering God's faithfulness to us and re-committing ourselves to be faithful to God and it is right to begin that with a time of prayer. Fasting is a neglected discipline these days, though many people, Christian and non-Christian, still mark Lent by 'giving up' something, usually a treat like chocolate. And there is an important insight here- fasting need not be about abstaining from all food. What it should be is denying yourself something you enjoy so that when you think about it, you are prompted to think of the reason you have given up. It is, then, a time to refocus on the things that are more important, our spiritual needs, and the needs of our neighbour, to strengthen ourselves to face the challenges of the world today.'
2009 marks the 1100th anniversary of the first appointment of a Bishop specifically for Devon. The seat of the first Bishop was originally in Crediton and the town's importance in this historic year will be marked by a pilgrimage from Sherborne to Crediton, led by the Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Revd John Ford and the Dean of Exeter Cathedral, the Very Revd Jonathan Meyrick.
Devon's three Church of England Bishops - of Exeter, Plymouth and Crediton (Rt Revd Bob Evens) - will then spend two months making their own pilgrimage, working and worshipping alongside communities across Devon.
On 27 June, there will be two open air services outside Exeter Cathedral, with the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. At the morning service the Archbishop will preach and he will also speak at the culmination of the day's events, in a Songs of Praise in the evening hosted by Judi Spiers. Earlier the same day there will be seminars by Alister McGrath, Rowan Williams and others.
A host of other events are planned to mark this anniversary year, for more details see www.devon1100.org.
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Item from: The Diocese of Exeter
Vicar sleeping on the Job
For the forty days of Lent Warwickshire Vicar Revd Canon Mervyn Roberts will be spending his nights sleeping on top of his church tower.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, 25th February, the start of the season of Lent in the Christian calendar Canon Roberts will be towering above his local village in Bishop’s Tachbrook facing the wind, rain, snow and the clock chimes as he undertakes a sponsored sleep out in a bid to raise money for the building of the St Chad’s Centre, a community centre designed to serve the needs of both the village and church.
A presenter for BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, Revd Mervyn has held the Guinness World Record for the longest Sermon (48hours) in 2002, a feat he also undertook for charity as well as being runner up Preacher of the Year in 1999.
Talking about his marathon sleep-over Revd Mervyn points out that the purpose is more than just a sponsored event:
“This act of discipline is in keeping with the strange eccentricities once expected of holy men and hermits who would spend weeks, months and even years living on top of pillars or towers for the spiritual elevation of their soul. Spending many hours both awake and hopefully asleep, I will be praying for the future of our community project and I will be able to direct my gaze on the ground below me where we hope to have it built. I have to admit that my mission also has a more earth bound intention and that is the accumulation of cash from everyone who takes an interest in my endeavour.”
“We require £ 250,000 from individuals in order to begin the task so I am using the penitential season of lent to pray in some pledges, collect some cash and raise awareness so that everyone who hears about our vision for a building serving this community will feel motivated to support the work.”
Over one tenth of out total has been raised so far, so a small but significant start has already been made. The final cost is likely to be around £700,000 but the St Chad committee, representatives from both the local community and the church, are confident that the target can be met.
Canon Roberts will be ascending the tower on Wednesday 25th February at 1pm and sleeping on the roof for 40 nights until Monday 6th April. He is happy to welcome visitors and will give a wave to those in the street.
Anyone who would like to know more about the St Chad’s Centre and Mervyn’s 40 day sleep out you can follow the links from www.justgiving.com website. Sponsor forms will be available in the Church.
A background to Canon Roberts can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/Coventry
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Item from: The Diocese of Coventry