We are living in a period where political talk has become increasingly oppositional and polarising, setting the tone for public and private discussion. Despite our wealth and cohesion, we are somehow convinced that this is not the best of times. We seem reluctant to act to avoid what is pending to be the worst of times.

This is our Lenten fare, the stuff of our Lenten fast. One aspect is the need for harmony. It is a word reduced too much to wellbeing: we will pursue its faith dimensions. Harmony is a discipline. It has to be won, held, remade, revalued. At its best, it is built around the joyful play of difference, a mutual love and respect, and a treasuring of other voices and ways. It builds for a trust and consensus.

This year we are excited to offer not one but six authors for our Garratt Lenten program, featuring Joan Chittister, Paul Creevey, Andy Hamilton, Gerard Moore, Paul Rowse and Debra Snoddy. We invite you to enter into our Lenten resources. They open up the Sunday readings and provide us with probing questions – uniting these insights in 2024 to build a vital and dynamic response of Christian harmony. This is the best of Lent, and leads to the best of times.

Title: Living in Harmony - Lenten Program Year B
Author: Joan Chittister, Paul Creevey, Andy Hamilton, Gerard Moore, Paul Rowse and Debra Snoddy
ISBN: 9781922484734
Publisher: Garratt Publishing
Date: 2023