Newsletter February 2026
The Vicar’s Reflections
Lent – stripping away to find what matters
Have you ever fasted? I have fasted in different ways and many times since my teenage years. It has included everything from giving up certain foods, to having a shopping fast (not buying any new things), and trying to give myself time to find better balance in life and review what is important to me.
We are now in Lent, the season of preparation before Easter.
For many people, Lent means giving something up – but the point is not really the sacrifice itself. It is about creating space. To pause and reflect on how we live our lives, what our relationships look like, and how our relationship with God can take up more room in our lives.
Many choose to give up things that easily take a lot of time and attention. Someone might decide to pause social media, cut back on TV series, or put their phone aside a little more often. Not because it is “wrong,” but because it so easily takes over.
When we give up something that is otherwise taken for granted, we are reminded of our habits. When we remove something we do every day, we quickly notice how ingrained our patterns are. How often do we reach for our phone without even thinking? The other day I counted how many times I reflexively picked up my phone “just to look.” The answer is: far too often.
But Lent is not only an exercise in abstaining – it is an invitation to direct our attention elsewhere. Lent can become an opportunity to pause and ask ourselves: What really fills my life? What gives me energy – and what simply takes time?
The Lenten season is an opportunity to return to a simpler rhythm.
I believe that is the deeper meaning of Lent: to simplify. To clear away what obstructs our view. Many of us would probably benefit from fasting from things we take for granted – things that occupy our time and energy without giving life in return.
Sometimes it is not the big changes that make the difference, but the small adjustments. To make room for stillness. To take a few minutes in prayer. To dare to be without all the noise for a while and see what happens within us.
Perhaps it is precisely when we let go of something that we discover we do not need to manage everything on our own. That God is already carrying you and me. That we may rest in the words:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” – The Gospel of John 14:27
You can give yourself the opportunity to let Lent become just that – a time to strip a little away, to more clearly see what truly sustains you and to draw closer to God.
With those words, I wish you all the best during this Lenten season and at the same time warmly invite you to our services and fellowship.
Katja Lin, your Vicar in Melbourne, Australia