To the world outside our church doors, Lent doesn’t look much different than any other time of the year. Our jobs continue to demand our time, there are still papers to write and tests to take for those of us in school. There’s a house that needs cleaning, a dog that needs a trip to the vet, a refrigerator that needs the weekly supply of milk and eggs. This is the same course of life we encounter each day of our lives, regardless of what church season we celebrate.
But within these four walls of the church, things change during Lent. As we embark on the journey that takes us to the cross and ultimately to the Resurrection, we take time as God’s people to come together and focus on what this exactly means. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, we chronicle the forty days that leads us to Good Friday and Easter. It is perhaps one of the most important journeys of faith we take part in.
I encourage you and your family to make the next six Wednesday nights part of your special Lenten journey. We’ll have Bible studies for children, youth and adults from 6:15-7:15. In addition, we’ll have a brief Ash Wednesday devotion service tomorrow night immediately following the Bible study. It’s my great hope that we all will take time out of the busy lives we lead to commit to being part of this Lenten journey – be it through a Wednesday night Bible study or special worship experiences. Let’s all make that trip together as the people of God!
On a personal note, it is hard to believe that this Lent marks the beginning of my tenth year as your pastor. I can still remember very well standing before you in worship on March 2, 2003; grateful for your call and eager to serve with and for you. Now, in 2012, that call remains as strong as ever. Lorie, Connor, Hunter and I still love living in Mount Airy and being able to call FPCMA our church home. God willing, we’ll have many more years of worship and service together!
