On Sunday, February 25 after worship there will be a gathering in the Chapel to talk about fasting at North. We hope to begin a community fast the next weekend, March 3 – 4 and then gather on Monday evening March 5 to break the fast in community with a meal.
Fasting, the abstention from food and often drink has been practiced for centuries by all the major faiths in the world. Our Hebrew scriptures, the life of Jesus, and even our country are rooted in fasting.
In our current culture, fasting has been nearly forgotten even though Jesus fasted and prayed especially in times of intense need.
From time to time we forget just which needs are most important, and our priorities become confused. Fasting cuts through the drift and ambiguity like a meat clever coming down on the butcher’s table. It is a concrete, decisive act that says, “You, Lord, are the still point in my turning world . . . for you, I will upset my daily meal routine because I long to hear your voice . . . for you I will live with these hunger pangs today and let them speak to me of your deepest desire for me or my community. Our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest with you. Adopted from Thomas Ryan