A Word from Pastor

The day of Ash Wednesday, this year on February 22nd, is determined by Easter. Easter in turn is determined by the natural cycles of the earth, sun, and moon revolving around each other. As this cycle of nature brings forth new life, we celebrate our spiritual rebirth through the death and resurrection of Christ as observed in the paschal cycle from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost.

Ash Wednesday falls at a time when we anticipate some rain with an eye looking forward to spring. In a similar way we ask God to wash away our sins and to create in us clean hearts. Like the pole of the earth begins to tilt toward the sun, we begin to turn and lean closer to the Lord.

The imposition of ashes feels like a stark warning that we will not live forever. But it is also an invitation to go forth boldly on spiritual journey that will lead us from death to the waters of rebirth and the new life of resurrection.

Thankfully Lent has returned to the way it was observed in the early church. Rather than a time of forty-days of doom and gloom, as it was when I was growing up, Lent can prepare us for the coming of Easter, when we reconnect to the mystery of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Historically Lent was a season to prepare candidates for baptism, the entire assembly observes these intense weeks dedicated to spiritual formation as it prepares for the paschal feast.

Shalom,

Pastor Mike