Dear Ladies and Sisters in Christ,

It seems it was just yesterday that I was writing to you as we entered the season of Advent. The time has flown by and we now are entering the season of Lent. I hope the interim period has been fruitful and fulfilling for each of you.

Our Collect for Ash Wednesday sets the tone for what we are to prayerfully consider during the Lenten Season:

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We must remember that nothing God has made does he hate, and we are made in His image. As Saint Paul wrote to the Ephesians (ch. 2), we are His workmanship by grace saved through faith, God’s gift to us, which He prepared beforehand. We, who were once dead in the flesh have now become alive in Christ, brought near by His blood. We are all members of the household of God. Sometimes, though, a house needs a good going over.

Women are very good at Spring cleaning when it comes to earthly things: switching out winter clothes for spring; discarding the heavy drapes in favor of sheers and blinds; repairing and patching places in and around the house that were damaged during the winter months and storms; weeding and mulching the flower beds and then filling them with the vibrant colors and hues of Spring.

Think of this Lenten Season as Spring cleaning for the soul. Is there some nagging unChristian and/or unwomanly habit that you wish you could tame but haven’t had the time to do so? Have you had trouble establishing a regular routine of prayer and biblical study? Do you find yourself being pulled over and over again back into a secular worldview mindset? I know I have.

So I encourage each of you during this season of Lent to do a little Spring cleaning in your soul. Find those dark and heavy places deep inside you and bring them, lamenting and acknowledging your own wretchedness, to the Cross of Christ. He will replace them with the vibrant colors and hues of heaven.

May God create and make in you new and contrite hearts, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Nancy Jones
Chair, Women of the Church
Diocese of Mid-America
Reformed Episcopal Church