From Pastor Heather
The season of Lent is upon us. As I write this, we await the day of Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins and we start this season of introspection and sacrifice. However, Lent is about more than sacrifice and looking inward. It is also a time to prepare our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls for the death of Jesus on Good Friday and for his resurrection on Easter. How can we truly appreciate the sacrifice Jesus, the One without sin, makes for us if we have not seen how we have turned away from God? How can we appreciate the free gift of eternal life if we have not examined our own lives?
This year as we journey toward Easter we will spend the Lenten season with the Gospel of Mark. These readings from Mark will direct us to the core challenges of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. This is not to make us cower in fear or withdraw into silence. These challenges are presented to “spur us on to love and good works” as we engage our own discipleship and walk with others in this journey. In a sense, it’s a spiritual boot camp. Take the challenges week by week and help one another get better at being a disciple as well.
In closing, I give you a list of questions from author Rachel Held Evans to ask yourself (and maybe one another?) as you begin Lent and as you go throughout the season.
1. When I wake up on Resurrection Sunday morning, how will I be different?
2. Is there a habit or sin in my life that repeatedly gets in the way of loving God with my whole heart or loving my neighbor as myself? How do I address that habit over the next 40 days?
3. Is there anyone in my life from whom I need to ask forgiveness or pursue reconciliation?
4. What practical steps can I take to carve out time for daily contemplation?
5. What spiritual discipline do I need to improve upon or want to try?
6. What are some things in my life that I tell myself I need but I don’t? Can I give one or two of them up for 40 days?
7. Why am I giving this particular thing up? How does giving it up draw me closer to God and prepare me for Easter?
8. What am I going to tell myself when self-denial gets hard?
9. Is it necessary/helpful for me to share the nature of my fast with others or should I keep it private?
10. What do the ashes mean to me this year? What does baptism mean to me this year?
Let me know how it goes – I look forward to hearing about your journey through the season.
Peace,
Pastor Heather