Iona Service Davina and Donalda

FESCH.TV INFORMIERT:

Davina: Lent is a journey
The six weeks of Lent are a journey, a journey where we are invited to take a break from our normal routines so that we can refocus our lives on God. It allows us to rehearse the Gospel again as we journey with Jesus to the cross, and ultimately to resurrection. But the season of Lent is often viewed as a confusing time. Many people have obediently observed the season for years without really knowing why it is important. This lack of understanding has led others to regard Lent with scepticism: it can seem like a hollow and bygone ritual that lacks true meaning. For many people, Lent is just a time of giving something up, of choosing to go without. Yet, the season of Lent should represent a potential and valuable time of renewal.
Even as God guides each of us on a personal Lenten journey, we should remember that we travel the journey of Lent together as a church family and as the family of God. We confess and receive forgiveness together. We lift one another up and guide each other toward faithfulness. Together, we walk with Jesus into death so that we can find true life through His resurrection.

Davina: A witness of Grace
The season of Lent is a vital part of our Christian calendar, because it gives us a specific time to ask, “What are we living for?” Every year, Lent invites us to recognize the ways that we, as individuals and as the Church, have lived for ourselves rather than for God; for this world rather than for God’s Kingdom.
This Lent let us journey together, let us be speakers and seekers of justice reflecting on the injustices that we see around us and ask what God is calling us to do about them.
We suggest that our journey through Lent is one in which we seek a different world, a world of people who reflect God’s vision, a vision that all are created equal.
Rather than ‘giving up’ things for Lent, maybe we should be looking at what we can ‘Give’, what we can work on, and what we can do better!

Donalda: An inclusive Community
Today’s service is focussed on one of Iona’s founding principles which is that of ‘connectedness’, of ‘oneness’ – which is about our relationship with God through our relationship with others – not only those who are our friends or family, but those we find difficult, those who are ‘different’ or those who walk a different road. So throughout Lent we can consider injustices, which relate to the big issues, but also injustices at home – how we relate to one another.
Members of the Iona Community commit themselves to many ethical principles but significantly they are dedicated to celebrating human diversity in all its guises and actively work to combat discrimination and injustice on grounds of age, colour, disability, gender, race, sexual orientation or religion. Acceptance of all – It is a totally inclusive community:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Donalda: Reading: Ephesians 4: 1-6

Donalda: And so, we pray:
Creator God,
weaver of the world in all its variety, you know our warp and weft: the diverse colours of our opinion,
the textures of our faith, you feel our quality, you touch our frayed edges, you accept us: you love us, different as we are

Christ of the seamless robe, again and again, we strip you and cast lots, arguing over material things,
missing the meaning of ministry, failing to be your body in the world –
Forgive us.

Holy Spirit, networking in the church, forming our loose ends into a fishing net, where the strands hold hands together around the holes, making our daily work a sign of God’s work in the world,
a sign of our connectedness, a sign of our calling: help us to hold together and to draw others into your kingdom- Use us.

Forgive us that we may forgive one another; Heal us that we may be people of healing, and renew us that we also may be makers of peace.
Use us. Amen

And so we say together
Our Father (the Lord’s prayer)