A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR RICHARD

 

“You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”- Genesis 3:19

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We are now entering the season of Lent as we journey to Easter Sunday and the good news of resurrection. We began Lent with our ecumenical Ash Wednesday service this week. I give thanks for another successful combined service with Evergreen Lutheran Church and the United Methodist Church of Evergreen. We have been doing these ecumenical services for 3 years now. It has been a joy to work with Pastor Terry and Pastor Sarah. I also give thanks to the combined choir which filled our chancel and performed a beautiful anthem.

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This week, I want to remind us about the purpose of observing Lent. When most people think of Lent, they typically think of this season as a time to give up something. The fasting part of Lent is very well known and important. But Lent is more than fasting and the fasting has a deeper meaning.

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We started with Ash Wednesday when we received ashes together as we were told, “you are dust and to dust you shall return.” This reminds us of our own deaths and that our lives are temporary. We were also reminded that God gave us life and we belong to God, both in this life and the next. Grounding ourselves in the promise of resurrection and the new life we’ve been given in Jesus, we confess our sin and commit to turning toward God (repentance) and following Jesus to the cross.

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On the way to the cross, we journey through the season of Lent for 40 days. During the season, we have an opportunity to grow in our faith and walk with Jesus. Historically, we grow in our faith during lent by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Prayer during lent is more focused on confession and examining our lives, along with focusing on deepening our relationship with God and others. Fasting during lent is a voluntary way to grow in our relationship with God. We might give something up that we long for, whether it’s a type of food or something else, and focus instead on our longing for God. The hope is that we pay more attention to God rather than earthly comforts. Lastly, almsgiving is a way to give of ourselves during Lent to those most in need, like the poor. Almsgiving isn’t only the giving of money, but it can also be acts of love to help those most in need.

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I encourage you to think about how you feel called to observe Lent this year as we journey to the cross with Jesus. Remember our call to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as ways to grow closer to God. If you would like to do something with others from the church, we are reading the Lenten Devotional Ever Approaching Dawn, which is still available in the narthex if you would like to pick one up. Then, we are doing a daily walk with Jesus exercise reflecting on the devotion for the week. The exercise can be walking, meditation,

yoga, etc. Tracking sheets are in the narthex as well. If you have any questions about this, email Heidi Smithson at hmtsmithson@gmail.com.

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Lent blessings to all of you,

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Pastor Richard