March Tower Edition

Church Family,

This March, we find ourselves at the beginning of the Lenten Season of the church worldwide. Lent is a particularly special time in the life of the church calendar. This season marks and symbolizes the 40-day fast that Jesus took in the wilderness before he began his ministry. It begins with Ash Wednesday. Traditionally Christians have gathered to receive the imposition of ashes on their forehead with the blessing, “from ashes you were made and to ashes you will return.” Lent leads us to Holy Week when we celebrate Jesus’s journey to the cross and the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. It is a time for reflection, fasting, and self-examination as we seek to become more like Jesus Christ. As a church we will have different opportunities to participate in these types of reflections. We will have Thursday prayer times and other resources available for you. I’d like for us to look to Joel 2:12-13:

Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.

The prophet Joel is speaking to the Israelites after they return from the exile in Babylon. In this passage the prophet is talking about “The Day of the Lord.” A time in which God would confront evil and bring about salvation. He calls the people to repentance and reminds us that God is a merciful God. We are invited to return to our gracious God in word, action, and deed. Lent is a hard and reflective time for us, but it leads us the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It helps us to see the beauty and power of Jesus through his conquering of the grave. We live into this hope and promise that through Christ we are given eternal life. Let us return to the Lord together and serve our neighbors in love. Consider giving something up for Lent, read God’s Word, participate in self-reflection, or support one of our ministries. Don’t forget to join us for worship. I am praying for each of you. Please reach out if you’d like any Lenten resources. My door is always open to you.

Peace,

Pastor Joy