Pre-Lent: Learning to Run the Race Before the Fast Begins
Reflections for Septuagesima Sunday

For many Christians formed by the cadence of the Church year, Septuagesima Sunday can feel like a quiet, half-forgotten doorway. Christmas is past, Epiphany is ending, and Lent has not yet begun. And yet the Church, in her ancient wisdom, gives us these three “gesima” Sundays—Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima—as a gentle but serious invitation: prepare yourself for the fast by first preparing your heart.

Pre-Lent is not yet a season of ashes and abstinence, but it is already a season of sobriety, realism, and resolve. The Alleluias fall silent. The liturgical violet begins to appear. The tone shifts from feast to recollection. The Church seems to take us by the hand and say: Slow down. Pay attention. You are about to begin something holy.

This shift is beautifully captured in the propers for Septuagesima Sunday.

The Collect sets the tone with a stark honesty:

“O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name…”

This is not a sentimental prayer. It acknowledges that our suffering is not only circumstantial, but often the fruit of our own sin. It reminds us that we do not drift into holiness but rather we limp toward it, dependent on God’s Mercy. Pre-Lent begins with humility. Before we take up disciplines, we admit our need for deliverance. Before we try to run the race, we confess how easily we stumble.

St. Paul, in the Epistle (1 Corinthians 9:24–27), gives us a bracing image:

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Paul is speaking of effort, training, discipline, and even self-denial: “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.” The Christian life, he tells us, is not a stroll but a contest, a pilgrimage, a long obedience. Paul’s goal is not perfectionism but direction. He wants our lives aimed toward an “incorruptible crown” - a union with Christ.

The Gospel (Matthew 20:1–16) adds a surprising twist. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard is not about productivity; it is about grace. The early workers feel cheated. They worked longer. They endured more heat. They deserved more pay—at least by their standards. But the landowner answers with unsettling gentleness: “Is thine eye evil, because I am good?”

Here Pre-Lent exposes our resentments. We compare ourselves. We measure holiness. We secretly tally our sacrifices. We assume God must reward us according to our internal spreadsheets. But the kingdom is not built on merit pay. It is built on mercy. The point of discipline is not to earn more Grace but to make us more receptive to the Grace already offered. This parable warns us as Lent approaches: if our fasting makes us proud, irritated, or contemptuous of others, we have missed the point entirely.

Pre-Lent is a time to simplify, to examine, to gently re-order our lives so that Lent does not become either a performance or a failure. It is about turning more deliberately toward God, so that when Lent arrives, we are already moving in the right direction.

“So run, that ye may obtain.”

Not alone.
Not by willpower.
But by Divine Grace that calls us into the vineyard at whatever hour we finally answer.

And that, perhaps, is the most hopeful word of all.

-- Fr. Chris Fish+
 

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SERVICES & EVENTS

POSTPONED: The Women's Retreat in Centreville, VA has been postponed until Saturday, February 21 at 9:00 AM. They are extending registration until Ash Wednesday (February 18th), so there's still an opportunity to sign up if this new date works better for you! https://dmas-acc.org/upcoming

Sunday, February 1, 10:00 AM Combined Service (no 7:45, 9:00 or 11:15 AM Services) followed by Annual Parish Meeting. : https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland)

Following the Annual Parish Meeting there will be a Blessing of the Marriage of Martha Harris & William Moncure and a reception after in the undercroft.  All are invited.

Discussion of the Saints this Monday 7:30 PM, undercroft, with Fr. Bragg, all are invited even if you have not been to prior discussions 

Wednesday, Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing

Saturday February 14, Women's St. Valentine's Day Potluck Luncheon: Join us for food and fellowship as we celebrate the feast of St. Valentine at 12:00 noon on Saturday, February 14th. Please contact Susan Fonte jsfonte AT comcast.net or Amy Bilyeau abilyeau AT gmail.com with questions. 

Tuesday, February 17, 7:00 PM, Shrove Tuesday Evening Prayer Service followed by pancake supper, please invite family, friends, and neighbors

DMAS Lenten Retreat, Saturday, March 7, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, St. Alban’s, Richmond, VA, more details soon.

 
MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Critical Needs 
Thank you for your help. Instead of presenting the whole list of needs, we are emphasizing the critical needs that MaRiH Center has and listing some other needs. The critical needs list below has been updated:
Diapers, sizes 5 and 6
Winter coats (Boys & Girls), size 2T 
Winter clothing, sizes 3- 6 months and 2T 
Wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby formula: Similac Advance Formula
Bibs: toddler
Lovies, rattles, teethers
Other needs:
Diapers, newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4
Fall/Winter Clothing, 6-9 month, 9-12 month, 12 month-18 month, 18-24month
Bibs, infant
Winter Coats, all baby sizes
There are two options for helping the Center with these needs! 
 
Option 1 
Amazon has all the specific items needed. You can order the specific item(s) and have them delivered directly to the Center.  

The MaRiH Center
3230B Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-4521
703-370-4774

Option 2 
Go to your local store, purchase the items requested and drop them off at church on Sunday. We will deliver them to the MaRIH Center.
 

Food Bank Needs
 
With the cold weather here the food bank has more folks who need food. Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Also lower sodium products are better and more healthy.

Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
peanut butter
jelly
tuna
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso,noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
 
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Alexandria, VA 22301-1625