Pastor’s Corner – February 1, 2024
Dear Beloved,
It is a little hard for me to believe that the liturgical season of Lent begins in less than two weeks. The space between Epiphany and Lent varies each year because Epiphany is a set date which begins on January 6th while Easter moves in relationship to the moon. This year Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent) is February 14th. I hope you will join us for this special worship service when we can experience the blessing of ashes, music, a message, and communion. We would also like to invite you to a Lenten Lunch on Sunday, February 4th. This lunch will be in the narthex right after the 10:30 a.m. worship service. It will be a brief time to connect with each other and chat about the coming Lenten season whether you have been familiar with this season for years or if it is brand new to you. We will talk about some spiritual practices you might enjoy trying during the season of Lent this year, and if we have time, we may also chat a bit about Holy week and the special offerings of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Holy Friday. It is an informal gathering for all ages. We hope you will come and invite people to join you.
I was taught that Lent is a time to be more attentive and open to my own humanity - both my limits (which I’m learning to lean into/listen to rather than resist) and my own sin. This morning as I think about what I might focus on in preparation for this coming season, I am giving thanks for Pastor Marc’s paragraphs in this new year which are reflecting on the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). I hope to focus on cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in my life so that I may share them with others as we prepare for the season of Lent. I pray that the Holy Spirit can keep opening me to understand and confess where I need to repent and be transformed by the indwelling of Jesus. I appreciate that I can be on this journey in community - in the community of disciples of Jesus - in the community of all who want to grow as loving creatures. Thank you for being in community. Thank you for being you! You bring very special and unique strengths, experiences, and personality and character traits to this world. Thank you for the ways you share the love of Jesus with others. I thank God for you! We are not alone. We are with each other in God’s grace and ever-faithful compassion. May you know you are a loved child of God.
With gratitude,
Sarah
22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
