Dear Friends of St. James’

As I read through this collection of Scriptural Reflections, I recalled a story told about a little fish who went swimming around asking all the other fish, “Where’s the ocean? Where’s the ocean?”

The other fish were confused by his question, until finally one said, “Why are you asking?”

The little fish said, “I’m looking for the ocean, but all I see around me is water.”

Each year around this time, as I look for resources to help enrich your Lent, I spend a lot of time scouring bookstores, catalogs, and the internet looking for material.

“Where are some scriptural, thoughtful, relevant devotional materials on Lent that I can share with the congregation?” I run around, asking.

Reading through this booklet of Lenten devotions – each and every one done by parishioners of St. James’ – makes me realize that, like that little fish, all this time I’ve been looking for something that is all around me!

Here – in the prose, poetry, and art of our own parishioners – you’ll find food for thought for each of the 40 days of Lent. The youngest contributor is only 6, the oldest is 97!

Some devotions are striking in their simplicity; others are so profound you can come back to them time and time again. But what gives these meditations their power is that they come NOT from of the pen of a highfalutin’ theologian, sophisticated Biblical scholar, or full-time monk, but from the person sitting next to you in church on Sunday… people like you and me who are trying, best we can, to “do the work God has given us to do” in our daily lives.

With thanks to Pastor Mary for bringing this idea to St. James’, and for her and Rev. Kate’s seeing this idea to fruition, it is my delight to present to you Lent Day by Day 2008: Scriptural Reflections by Parishioners of St. James’ Episcopal Church, Ages 6-97.

Faithfully yours,

Fr. John