Our Lenten Journey

Dear Friends,

One of my favorite images of Lent is that of a journey that takes us deeper into our relationship with God and renews our Christian faith and practice. This journey began on Ash Wednesday, when we were reminded of our own mortality, and of the call of God to live intentionally as followers of Jesus Christ. Over the past few weeks, we have been spiritually fed and encouraged in our walk with our Lord in worship, the Lent program, and daily Bible readings.

This month, our Lenten journey will bring us to Holy Week, when we will walk with Jesus through the final events of His earthly life. We will remember His entrance into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday and will participate in the dramatic reading of Jesus’ betrayal, abandonment, and condemnation to death. On Maundy Thursday, we will remember the Last Supper, and share the final gift He gave to us in the sacrament of Holy Communion. On Good Friday, we will contemplate the mystery and wonder of the Cross, when Jesus gave His life for the sins of the whole world. On Holy Saturday, we will remember that as He lay buried in the tomb, the Disciples thought that all hope was lost. And then, on Easter morning, we will rejoice in the greatest, most joyful news of all—that Jesus has triumphed over the power of sin and death, and that He still transforms the lives of those who follow Him today.

I encourage you to make Holy Week and Easter services a priority this year. The more we participate in them, the more deeply we experience the reality of God’s amazing love for us. It is only as we journey with our Lord through the events of His final days that we can truly know the joy and hope of the resurrection that we celebrate on Easter Day, and forever.

See you in church!