February 13, 2013

Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Season


Today we begin our forty day Lenten journey. This is a season of drawing near to God. One of the main elements of this season is repentance. How timely after such a playful celebration of Mardi Gras! 

Repentance is an emotional word for many due to how it was presented to by the church. I am out to redeem this word, for in reality, it is a blessing to us from God. It is about changing ones mind, or direction and turning from that which takes life to that which gives life.

In Ash Wednesday services we are often asked to think of people we have harmed and to make right our wrongs. And there is nothing wrong with that for all of us have sinned and come short in our dealings with one another. But this year I want to shift the focus from thinking of our shortcomings with others to thinking of our shortcomings with God.

Jesus said that we are to love God with all of our heart, our soul, and our mind. What does that mean in the world in which we live? Tonight we will be focusing on loving God with all of our heart. The following Wednesday Night will be focused on loving God with all of our soul and the last Wednesday of this month will be focused on loving God with all of our mind. 

Join us from 5:45pm - 6:45pm for an evening meal before the service at 7:00pm.

Rev Sandy, Pastor

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