“Getting Ready” by Rev. Dr. Laura Barnes, Interim Senior Minister
Lent is a beautiful season of getting ready for the Mystery of Easter. There is SO MUCH POWER in the Resurrection, but we need to prepare so we don’t miss the gift of knowing that even out of death, robust aliveness is possible. We must embrace the idea that some things need to die so that there is room for new things. It is the season of letting go, but also of coming closer together.
Lent, beginning with the confessions of Ash Wednesday, is a time where we create intentional space for the Spirit to move among us in new ways. It is a time for spiritual practices that open our hearts to God wider than before…even if they have to be broken open.
Our community needs the support of every single member – financial, personal and spiritual. We all need to dig deep and offer the most robust financial support possible during this challenging period of transition. We need you in worship - bring friends along and encourage others to do the same. We need prayers for this church and your leadership. Finally, we all need to share hope and encouragement with others everywhere we go…as Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, “may your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best…” (Philippians 1:9-10)
This Lenten season, all are invited to embrace a spiritual discipline such as daily scripture study, meditation, fasting, simplicity/frugality or service. A more complete list is provided here with scripture readings. My prayer is that each of us find this season a time for renewed commitment, of opening space in our lives for God’s grace and for the healing of old wounds so that something new can come alive among us.
Lent, beginning with the confessions of Ash Wednesday, is a time where we create intentional space for the Spirit to move among us in new ways. It is a time for spiritual practices that open our hearts to God wider than before…even if they have to be broken open.
Our community needs the support of every single member – financial, personal and spiritual. We all need to dig deep and offer the most robust financial support possible during this challenging period of transition. We need you in worship - bring friends along and encourage others to do the same. We need prayers for this church and your leadership. Finally, we all need to share hope and encouragement with others everywhere we go…as Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, “may your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best…” (Philippians 1:9-10)
This Lenten season, all are invited to embrace a spiritual discipline such as daily scripture study, meditation, fasting, simplicity/frugality or service. A more complete list is provided here with scripture readings. My prayer is that each of us find this season a time for renewed commitment, of opening space in our lives for God’s grace and for the healing of old wounds so that something new can come alive among us.
Embracing Jesus – Lent 2020
Beginning Feb 26th with Ash Wednesday, and all through the six Sundays of Lent, we will be a bit uncomfortable. The image of Jesus on the cross can be frightening, mysterious and tender. It may even feel as if we are lingering too long on the suffering of Jesus. Those 40 days of Lent will bring us closer to the beaten, bruised, and betrayed Christ on the cross. This is an appropriate experience in the Lenten season. Just because there was intense pain and sacrifice, we don’t get to turn our heads. As we always do, however, we will move through the seven last words of Jesus and arrive at Easter Sunday together. There will be a bright and bold word, a word of new beginnings and of new hope. By the time we reach the glory of the resurrection, it is our prayer that these precious words from a crucified Christ will be written on our hearts – so we never forget the abandonment, the thirst, the fear, the fatigue, and the loneliness that our Savior experienced. From that place, it will be possible for us to embrace resurrected hope that can grow and flourish. So, on Ash Wednesday, we will begin our journey together into the seven last words of Jesus from the cross. May those seven sayings of our savior change our hearts this Lenten season, and help carry us through the upcoming time of transition, exploring possibilities and hope that are ahead for us all.