Pastor's Message for February-March 2012
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
My last cover letter ended with a P.S.: “Watch for a December letter on our website.” Let me apologize for never having posted such a letter. However, since no one has said “What happened to your December website letter?”, I’m guessing it wasn’t a highly anticipated event. Still, I am sorry.
Now to matters at hand.
The season of Lent is upon us. If your background is anything like my own, you may think of this season as the time of the church year when we think and talk about depressing things and act sad and sorry. If so, you’ve missed the point!
Lent is a time to prepare for Easter, the central celebration of our faith. It is a forty day period (excluding Sundays which are always feast days celebrating the Resurrection) of repentance and renewal. It is a time for meditation and prayer; a time for deepening our understanding of Christ’s sacrifice and Resurrection; a time for renewal of our baptismal covenant and recommitment to the Christian life.
A fuller observance of Lent can mean for us a more joyful and meaningful Easter experience. Just what “fuller” means for you, you know better than anyone. My challenge to you is this: make your Lenten observance “fuller” than it has been.
If in recent years you have only attended Easter services, this year consider attending Sunday services all through Lent as well. If you regularly attend on Sundays, this year consider attending Holy Week services.
If you have attended Holy Week services, this year attend the Lenten Mid-Week services.
If you already make a habit of doing that, this year start spending time in daily private Bible reading.
If you already do that ...well, I think you get the idea.
Make a start. Increase the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to influence your Lent, to guide your heart, to deepen your devotion to the Son of God who died for you.
In Christ,
