Lent sends us inward.
In Epiphany we leave home, like the Magi, followoing the light of Christ, searching
for just a glimpse of the one sent to save us from ourselves. But the season
of Lent draws us inward, helps us look at the things we do or think or say that
cut us off from each other, cut us off from God, cut us off from love and from
loving.
So Ash Wednesday comes and we gather up our hearts to face our brokenness, remember
our frailty and God's yearning for our return. On the five Wednesdays that follow,
we'l collect ourselves for simple suppers, a vespers service of Holen Evening
Prayer, and discuss the mighty acts of God. During Holy Week we'll share a Seder
Meal, the Passover meal that forms the basis for the Lord's Supper. We'll draw
together again Good Friday, revisiting the final hours of Jesus' own journey
to the cross. For the first time we'll celebrate an Easter Vigil, sharing our
new church home with our dear friends from Bread of Life Lutheran Church. Every
Sunday celebrates the resurrection of our Lord; these ingatherings in Lent will
work to deepen your joy.
And in the midst of all this, in March we'll be holding a congregational retreat,
to reflect on our vision for Good Shepherd. Moving into our new church home
is an incredible milestone in our journey together, and it's had an incredible
impact on who we are, how we see ourselves, what we can do. Now we need to take
the time to sort some things out. We need to set a little time apart to focus
on our gifts, on where we've been and what we've accomplished. We also need
to talk about the things that get in the way of doing ministry, the policies
and practices we're missing, the things we don't yet know how to do. We need
to figure out where we're going next, and how to get there.
Ingatherings,I call them. Time to look inside yourself, time to look inside
ourselves. Time to go home.
Pastor Jim
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
From the Shepherd's Song Newsletter -- February 2010
Copyright 2010 by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
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E-mail your comments and questions to Pastor Jim in care of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at good.shep-holland@sbcglobalnet.