February 2010
LentI’ve recently completed my latest round of pastoral visits. I enjoy them very much. One thing I’ve noticed that many of these visits have in common is their perspective upon life. There’s no getting around the fact that the older one gets, the longer one’s perspective on things. The way one looks back over 28 years is not the same as how one looks back over 48 years or 68 years and so on. As the Bible makes clear, life has its seasons. Each season comes with its own perspective.
Brothers and sisters, the life we live in the Lord has its seasons as well. Later this month we will enter upon the Season of Lent, a reflective, penitential time leading up to our celebration of Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday a day we’ve traditionally marked with worship and a Soup Supper in the Charter Room.
Lent is a season set aside for us, ahead of Easter, to reflect upon all that God in Christ has done. I suspect that our daily, day-to-day perspective is simply too short, too harried, too pre-occupied to capture the depth and breadth of God’s grace. It takes many days and much reflection; it takes a season.
As the exiles discovered, through out all their circumstances God proved faithful to his word keeping his promise to his children. At the dawn of a New Year that heralds news of economic strife and war and rumors of war, that’s good to hear. It’s good to know that in spite of all we face in the year ahead we worship a God who knows our circumstances, who cares for us and who follows through on his promises.
As those who are counted among the grateful recipients of God’s unmerited favor in Christ Jesus our Lord, please join the consistory and me around the tables in the Charter Room this Ash Wednesday, February 17th. What better way to begin a season that is intended to capture a sacred perspective upon the Lord and the life we share in His name.
Grace and Peace to you all, Pastor Richard