Thoughts for March

As we enter the month of March, we also enter the season of Lent. Lent begins this year on March 5, Ash Wednesday. The first Sunday of Lent is March 9. Our theme this year will be asking the question, “What r u up 2?”

Rather than just “giving something up” in Lent, the scriptures and weekly themes will ask us to consider all that Jesus is “up to” and all that he asks us to be up to in his name. Instead of bemoaning what we can’t do, or used to do, in a culture where “measuring up” to external standards seems impossible, this Lent we will celebrate the small things that we can do right now to respond to God's call in our place, for our time. I’m hoping we all have a meaningful Lent and take the opportunity to grow spiritually in new ways. Along with participating in weekly, worship, I invite you to take on a new spiritual discipline. Each week in the weekly newsletters, I will offer suggestions and opportunities for that. The church is also providing a free Lent specific devotion book, written by the General Minister and President of our denomination, Terri Hord Owens. The devotion is called, “Facing Jerusalem: A Lenten Journey with Jesus.” The books are available now for pick up.

This March, we also recognize that it has been five years since the global pandemic. Many are still grieving and picking up the pieces of their lives since then. So much has changed for all of us since Covid appeared and there are still many ramifications of those challenging months and the following years. In order to honor this, the worship team has planned a special prayer time and service for Thursday, March 20. The sanctuary will be open for personal prayer and reflection from 5:00-6:30. We will then have a brief communal worship service from 6:30-7:00.

May prayer, worship, and community gatherings continue to be a way we grow and navigate through this life as a church family.

Faithfully,

Wendy