Thursday, March 2, 2017

03-05-17


Today is the first Sunday in Lent.  Lent is the period of forty days, not counting Sundays, before Easter.  This forty day period mirrors the time Jesus was in the desert praying and fasting while being tempted to rely on other power and provision than God’s Spirit and God’s Word.

 

For us today, Lent is a time to for our “Spiritual GPS” to be redirected where it has gotten off track from the direction of God’s will for our lives and our church.  Where we have sinned we “repent” which literally means turn around.  Where we are lost in worry, doubt, anxiety and fear, we “come home” to a loving and welcoming God.  Where we are lax in studying God’s Word and abiding with God in prayer, we create space for more of God and less of “us” in our inner and outer lives.

 

In the March newsletter I give some suggestions for practicing a Holy Lent.  Another rich source of ideas is the article “Forty Things to Give Up for Lent” found at https://www.greaterthings.today/40-things-to-give-up-for-lent-the-list/.  Some people find it helpful to go without things that they normally enjoy to bring them closer to Christ and Christ’s sufferings on our behalf.  Others add a discipline to draw them closer to God and God’s will. 

 

There are three special events here at EPC that I encourage you to consider adding to bring you closer to God and one another:

1.      Beginning Wednesday March 15 at 5:45 p.m. there will four Wednesday “Soup, Salad and Study” evenings.  Enjoy good food, fellowship and a study of the Gospel of Luke.  I will lead the Bible study in a way that will help “flesh out” what we learn during worship.  Daylight Savings time begins March 12 (“Spring Forward”) so you will be able to get home before dark.

2.      Beginning Sunday March 19 at 9:00 a.m. there will be four Sunday times of Music and Meditation.  This is a time to be still and be inspired by excellent music and to learn a spiritual discipline each week.  This period of Music and Meditation will be followed by fellowship in the courtyard and Traditional Worship at 10:30 a.m. (note time change).  Worshippers may attend one or both of these times of praise.

3.      On Saturday March 25 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. there will be a Spiritual Retreat in the Prayer Chapel behind the Sanctuary.  This retreat is led by EPC’s Spiritual Formation Team.  I plan on attending for my benefit and hope you consider it too. 

May these forty days of Lent be a time of great growth for you and for Eastminster.  God is alive here, and I pray that we remove or rebuke anything that would try to separate us from living in right relationship with God.  If you would like counsel during this season don’t hesitate to contact one of your Pastors or Elders.  Our contact information is on the back of your worship guide. May God Guide You and EPC this Season!

 

Blessings,
Pastor Tim

 

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