Lenten Bible study takes close look at angels
Volume 30, Issue 2 February 1, 2010
Rev. Alexander Lang
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By The Rev. Heather Sigler
our faith. “Angels Point the Way Toward Easter” will relate these five texts to ave you ever companion events from Jewondered about angels? Do sus’ passion to enrich our you question whether or not journey through Lent toward the glorious celebrathey really even exist? Do you believe you have a tion of Easter. guardian angel? Then this Each session will last an year’s Lenten Bible study is hour. The topics are: for you. Paradise: Then and Now Small groups will meet in or What kind of Guardindividual homes to explore ian angel is this? five key scripture texts that help us understand the role of angels in the history of
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Lent begins with Ash Wednesday By Russell Sullivan Jr. A lot of Christians live as if the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ never happened. We become self-absorbed in the everydayness of our lives — the size of our houses, the amount of money in our wallets, our busy careers, the trappings of our power and prestige. We end up forgetting who our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer is. Lent is that gracious time in the liturgical calendar that calls us back to the basics and to remember the cost of our salvation. It calls us to (Continued on page 2)
Inside this issue: Celebrating Ash Wednesday
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MAPS Event celebrates Cesar Franck
4
February Scripture
4
February calendar
5
Of interest to Pine Street
6
Downtown Daily Bites
6
The recent devastation of the earthquake in Haiti left me with some disquieting thoughts concerning my place in the world order. We are all aware on some level that our lives are the product of chance. No one chooses to be born into abject poverty and neither does anyone choose to be born into a life of wealth and opulence. Yet, we are all given our station in life and common wisdom tells us we must make the best of what God has given us. Many of us, the majority, are born into poverty. Fifty-three percent of the world population lives on less than $2 a day and, even when we take into account cost-of-living differences, 50 percent live in poverty. You and I happen to live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. I often fail to reflect on how extremely fortunate I am in this regard. Only 4.5 percent of the world’s population lives in the United States. The chances of you being born in the United States (Continued on page 2)