We’ve just begun the season of Lent which will carry us through March 30. In response to God’s generosity, we are looking at stepping up our commitment to Christ in several Spiritual disciplines—prayer, Bible study, worship, witness, financial giving, and service. As we grow in these areas we will grow closer to Jesus Christ and to others. Each of us is at a different place in our journey so the steps we take will be different. The important thing is that each of us is making progress in our journey to become more like Christ. I pray you are coming to worship each Sunday and that you are finding the daily devotional helpful. It’s not too late to pick one up at church and get started using it. Small group lessons reinforce and enhance what we are doing in worship each week and our daily devotionals. You are welcome to join one of the three doing the study: Mondays at 7PM, Tuesdays at 1 PM or Tuesdays at 7 PM.
Before we know it will be Holy Week. Palm/Passion Sunday is March 24. That week there will be a traditional Holy Thursday service with communion at 7 PM on March 27 and a Good Friday service at 7 PM the next day. On Good Friday, the Aldersgate Actor’s Guild will be presenting a drama entitled, Stages on the Way. Child care will be available during both of these services.
The observance of Lent and Holy Week are important because they help us get in touch with the amazing love and generosity of God in Christ. That God would freely choose to become one of us and suffer and die on a cross for us is overwhelming. As we experience anew Jesus’ sacrificial death on a cross, we are prepared to more deeply experience that joy of the resurrection on Easter Sunday, March 31.
This is the Good News. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). The Great News is that this was not the end, because on the third day God raised him from the dead conquering sin and death once and for all. Because Christ is alive, we can have new abundant life now and life with him through eternity. Rejoice! Celebrate! Proclaim! Christ is risen!
May you have a holy Lent in which you draw closer to Christ and a joyous beginning to the Easter season.
In Christ’s love,
