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F E B R U A R Y 20 13
Why Do Lent? So, what is this Lent thing all about anyway? Lent is the time in the Christian year when we remember Jesus suffering and sacrifice. It is a difficult season. We were joyous in Christmas when we celebrated Jesus birth. We were filled with wonder in Epiphany when we heard the magnificent stories of Jesus’ baptism, His miracles, and His transfiguration. But now the road gets tough. The lessons are challenging. As we recognize that Christ gave up His life for us as an atonement for our sins, it has been a common practice during Lent to give up something in our own lives that might keep us from Christ. The cliché is to give up chocolate over the 40 days of Lent. (By the way, the movie Chocolat, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, does an entertaining job of explaining why Christians could make a more lasting impact by giving up something more significant than chocolate during the 40 days.) What should Christians give up during Lent? Are there habits that keep you from drawing closer to God? Are there things you do to excess that ought to be done in more moderation? Would a reduction in TV or computer time, for instance, give you more time for prayer? Or, would you be willing to turn the tables? Is there some spiritual practice that you could take on for this short season in the Christian year? I’ve asked the pastoral staff, as well as Rev. Lisa Brown Cole and Rev. Jack Snyder, to tell us what they believe Christians should give up. Each Wednesday in Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 13th, we will hear a different speaker talk to us about things that could make a lasting impact in our lives if we could only give up certain traits. Some of the topics these speakers will be addressing include giving up worry, control, hatred, blinders, and discouragement, among others. I hope you will join us each Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary as we learn some new ways to have a holy Lent. And may the Peace of Christ be with you, Pastor Doug