Lent arrives later this year than in previous years. You may wonder why Lent and Easter some-times happen during different months. Easter is not set to a fixed date on the calendar but rather is fixed to the lunar calendar. That means the new spring moon tells us when to set the date for Easter and Lent. This might not make much sense to modern people, but before modern calendars, people often set dates and times by the sun and the moon. Some traditions don't change quickly.
As you might have heard me say, Lent is a time of preparation. It is a time to prepare for the events of Holy Week and Christ's Passion and Resurrection. It was traditionally a time to receive new members in the church and a time to restore repentant people to fullness and
healing.
Before we enter Lent, we must indulge a little with the Pancake Supper. I look forward to see-ing you all as we have breakfast for dinner. It's a fun and filling way to prepare for the forty days of Lent. Then, we begin with Ash Wednesday. If you can't make it to our evening service, you can come during the day hours to receive the ashes from 10AM until Noon.
However, now is a good time to ask yourself how you will practice preparing for Christ's passion in your Lenten journey. Traditionally, we Christians have fasted, prayed, and studied. We are offering a Lenten study called the Wesley Challenge this year. This study asks us to consider the ways we connect with God in our lives. You can join a group study or use it as your devotional study.
This year, I have considered a different kind of fast for myself. I may fast from social media this year. It is hard because sometimes I may have to post or read something important for work or family, but I know I don't need to be “doom scrolling” as much as I do. The point of a fast isn't only self-improvement, but to ask how this activity affects my relationship with God. What activities draw you closer to your faith in Christ, and what activity draws you away from that faith? Ask yourself these questions as you consider how you will walk the Lenten journey this year.
Matthew 6:16-18 NIV
16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fast-ing, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Pastor Josh
