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NEWS FROM THE HILL
It's Always Lent...

I was told this story years ago, and I’ve told it on occasion. I may have used it for a sermon illustration in the past.

There is a town on the West coast of Oregon named Port Orford. It is about as far away as you can get before you begin going to where you want. You might imagine that it could be one of those quaint coastal towns, but it isn’t. It does attract rain and fog as the coast of Oregon has that reputation. And, I am sure that the Chamber of Commerce would rather not be known as the most depressed town in the state. When Marilyn and I lived in Oregon, it was known as having been further depressed by the closure of logging areas because of some "owl."

The Rt. Rev. Thomas Jenkins retired in Port Orford after being Bishop of Nevada. The reasons were never revealed to me,  although I have my suspicions. Bishop Jenkins settled in to the town and with him a number of men came to live a type of monastic life. One priest I knew a long, long time ago was sent there by his Bishop to do a year’s penance for some act of disloyalty.

The story goes - One day, dreary and rainy as usual, Bishop Jenkins was walking downtown, umbrella up, fending off the wet wind. Unexpectedly, he ran into one of his parishioners. Specifically, he bumped into her as she was leaving the motion picture house. He began to reprimand her by saying, "Mrs. Smith... a movie in Lent?"  To which she responded, "Bishop, it’s always Lent in Port Orford." And she marched off.

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From the Senior Warden:
Lent is my favorite season in the Church year. People sometimes marvel that such a
traditionally penitential season would be my favorite, but the chance to set aside six weeks of the year and dedicate more time to spiritual needs, along with the intense symbolism and special services, make me look forward to Lent more than any other church season.

For centuries, Lent has been set aside as a special time of spiritual deepening and formation.  Traditionally, it has been the time when those seeking baptism, confirmation or reception have been prepared. It’s a time for us all "seekers, doubters and the faithful" to engage in soul-searching, self-examination, and simplicity. A time to get honest with ourselves and with God. A time to reflect, a time to heal, and a time to grow.

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