I’m writing this on Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten Season in the Christian year. By the time you are reading this we will probably be in the second week of Lent. I pray you are taking time to use the daily devotional you received at church and praying every day, and that during the Lenten Season we will all draw closer to Christ and grow more into the people we are created to be.
We started our year of prayer by encouraging everyone to read a book about prayer, Draw the Circle, by Mark Batterson. I hope you have found the book meaningful and helpful. If you want to gather with others and talk about it, join me at 7 PM on Monday, March 12. We have been circling our Bishop and district superintendents in prayer along with the church finances. As soon as the new pastor is announced, we can move from circling the Bishop to praying for the new pastor and the transition that will be taking place.
On Friday, March 2 at 7 PM, we will hold a church-wide prayer service for the World Day of Prayer. There will be music and prayer from all our traditions — a foreshadowing of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Holy Week brings several important worship services: Sunday, March 25 is Palm/Passion Sunday. Holy Thursday is March 29. We will have a service of worship with communion at 7 PM. The next evening, on Good Friday we will worship at 7 PM. I encourage you to participate in these services. They will enhance your celebration of Easter on April 1. It is only as we get in touch with the pain of the cross that we can truly know the joy of Easter.
Child care will be provided in the nursery at all our special services including the March 2 prayer service.
I pray you will have a blessed and holy Lent.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Anne