Download The Meaning and Significance of the Word 'Refrain' in Faith and Lenten Practices and more Lecture notes Latin in PDF only on Docsity! P A G E M A R C H R H Y T H M S O F F A I T H1 MARCH’S theme = REFRAIN How did one word come down to us meaning both ‘stop it!’ and ‘sing it again!”? Handy online dictionaries agree that the verb ‘to refrain’ means “to restrain, forbear or abstain from.” It comes from a Latin word meaning ‘to bridle again’. That ‘again’ implies something that was once subdued but which has gotten out of hand; it's lost control and needs to be restrained, perhaps in order to be retrained? While the noun ‘refrain’ is the repeated chorus section of a song lyric or poem and comes from a word meaning ‘to break up or refract.’ The refrain interrupts the flow of thought to repeat something, which summarizes the main idea. When we refrain from doing something, we resist an impulse to do something which may well be habitual, an ongoing practice. We break up or interrupt our normal flow—a little like breaking up a song with repetitions of the refrain. Our 2021 Lenten worship theme is Again & Again: A Lenten Refrain. The subtitle reminds us Lent is a season of repeating spiritual practices over and over again as we seek to follow the ways of Jesus. When we refrain, we say “no” to distractions that draw us from God and say “yes” to something life-giving and renewing. This past year we've all had our own refrains of “again and again.” These have circled around disrupted work patterns, endless laundry at home, online meetings, and the constant reminder NOT to do this or that for the safety of self and others. While the past year has been full of refraining and sacrificing, it's also been a remarkable time in the life of this community of faith. Along the way, we have been people who chose, again and again, to show up—making new ways to be together virtually, strengthening our community by learning new skills, and partnering with others to face challenges. Instead of remaining completely isolated, turning inward and toward despair, we've changed the tune of our refrains and found others doing the same - filing pantries and delivering food to schools; sharing coffee and coats, diapers and wipes, peanut butter and jelly. Each of these tangible ways of meeting needs and loving our neighbors. May sharing God's love be the constant refrain of our lives! rh yt hms of faith FO R L IF E I N C O M M UNIT Y I N T E N T I O N A L P R A C T I C E S P A G E 2 M A R C H R H Y T H M S O F F A I T H So what have you given up for Lent? In a typical year you might say chocolate or sweets, others might say social media or coffee. It occurs to us that after a full year of what feels like the longest Lent some of us may be asking, what more could we give up?! We’ve spent months refraining from so much - going to restaurants, movie theaters, visiting family and traveling on vacation, the normal rhythms of work and school. After a year of what feels like the longest Lent on record, why would we want to refrain from something else? Historically, Christians have used three broad categories of practices during the season of Lent: fasting, prayer, and generosity. Fasting removes things to create space in your heart and life, prayer is a way to fill that interior space, and generosity is giving out of the overflow. Each of these practices are external ways to shape your interior life. Maybe you refrain from eating eating red meat, driving over the speed limit, eating that second piece of cake, etc. Opting out of these might feel like punishment, but the art of refraining can have a lot to do with the quality of your life. During Jesus’ time in the desert it‘s likely that he spent time suffering, and some energy went towards thinking about his thirst and hunger. But surely he also thought about the blessings of his life during those 40 days. For today, try to refrain from complaining about this “never ending Lent” and reflect on where you’ve seen God at work. You might want to incorporate some time thinking on what you want to carry forward from a year of constrains and refraining, because better days are on the way! LentThe Sweet Refrains of :
