Lenten Jouney
Pastor’s Ponderings:
We begin our Lenten journey with Jesus. For forty days we will contemplate how we fall short of the Glory of God. We do, we are very fallible, frail and fickle creatures of God’s creation, and yet we are baptized children of God. Through baptism we are given the promise that God is with us through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are named and claimed by God, as children of God. But as with most children, we are not as pure as the wind driven snow, we are not innocent creatures. As we contemplate our sinfulness, we can also contemplate God’s redeeming gift to us through the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for us, for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus bore the cross for us; Jesus died for us, so we might have eternal life in the heavenly realm, sharing in the Glory of God.
We all have different Lenten pieties; we engage in our Lenten devotions and contemplations in different ways. People give up something so they may give to those in need, give to the poor, be in solidarity with those who lack proper food, proper housing, clean water. Lent is not so much giving up as much as it is giving towards a cause or concern. So what form will our Lenten devotions take? This year we are sharing our Wednesday Lenten services here in Absarokee with the congregations of St. Paul’s on the Stillwater Episcopal Church and the Community Congregational Church. Ash Wednesday saw the participation of all three pastors during our worship service. During Lent, our neighboring congregations who participated in our Ash Wednesday worship services will be taking turns hosting and preaching at our Wednesday Holden Evening Prayer worship services. Immanuel will host the Wednesday prayer service on 4 March with the participation of Captive Free youth ministry and on 18 March. The Congregational Church will host the bread and soup fellowship and proclaim the Word on 11 March and 1 April. St. Paul’s on the Stillwater Episcopal Church will host and preach on 25 March. The offerings we receive during our joint services will be split three ways going to the following church service organizations: Lutheran World Hunger, One Great Hour of Sharing, and Episcopal Relief and Development. All three organizations serve those in need by providing food, health care, clothing, shelter, and spiritual relief. During our Lenten journey let us be faithful in our devotional support to those who are in need, who suffer loss, who are in pain.
We begin our Lenten journey with Jesus. For forty days we will contemplate how we fall short of the Glory of God. We do, we are very fallible, frail and fickle creatures of God’s creation, and yet we are baptized children of God. Through baptism we are given the promise that God is with us through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are named and claimed by God, as children of God. But as with most children, we are not as pure as the wind driven snow, we are not innocent creatures. As we contemplate our sinfulness, we can also contemplate God’s redeeming gift to us through the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for us, for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus bore the cross for us; Jesus died for us, so we might have eternal life in the heavenly realm, sharing in the Glory of God.
We all have different Lenten pieties; we engage in our Lenten devotions and contemplations in different ways. People give up something so they may give to those in need, give to the poor, be in solidarity with those who lack proper food, proper housing, clean water. Lent is not so much giving up as much as it is giving towards a cause or concern. So what form will our Lenten devotions take? This year we are sharing our Wednesday Lenten services here in Absarokee with the congregations of St. Paul’s on the Stillwater Episcopal Church and the Community Congregational Church. Ash Wednesday saw the participation of all three pastors during our worship service. During Lent, our neighboring congregations who participated in our Ash Wednesday worship services will be taking turns hosting and preaching at our Wednesday Holden Evening Prayer worship services. Immanuel will host the Wednesday prayer service on 4 March with the participation of Captive Free youth ministry and on 18 March. The Congregational Church will host the bread and soup fellowship and proclaim the Word on 11 March and 1 April. St. Paul’s on the Stillwater Episcopal Church will host and preach on 25 March. The offerings we receive during our joint services will be split three ways going to the following church service organizations: Lutheran World Hunger, One Great Hour of Sharing, and Episcopal Relief and Development. All three organizations serve those in need by providing food, health care, clothing, shelter, and spiritual relief. During our Lenten journey let us be faithful in our devotional support to those who are in need, who suffer loss, who are in pain.
posted by RevLev at 4:46 PM
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