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Happy Thursday Church Family!
I sure do hope you are having a terrific week. It appears we have ventured back into winter, but I have hope that spring is on its way. Many thanks to everyone who participated in worship this past Sunday. What a joy it was to have Richard James with us on the piano. Wow … what a gift. His solo at the beginning of, “I Believe” was so beautiful and reminiscent of the “Rat Pack.” It was amazing to me how the songs meaning took on new life. Our new pianist, Michael Pritchard will be back with us Sunday. Please offer him the radical welcome you are known for.
So, you might have wondered, are we going to be in this sermon series on the UCC Statement of Faith forever? The answer … No. However, beginning next Sunday, we will shelve our study through Lent and Holy Week, and pick back up after Easter. We are about halfway through the statement itself. That being said, Lent 2023, begins this coming Wednesday, February 22, 2023. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall at noon, on Ash Wednesday (2/22/23), for a light lunch, a small program, communion, and the imposition of ashes. I want to encourage the entire church community to spend about an hour at church that day. Now, I know it is midday and that knocks some of you out due to your work schedules, but if you aren’t working and can be with us in fellowship, I can guarantee it will be worth your time, especially if you have never received the imposition of ashes.
The Sunday after next, March 5th, we will turn our hearts toward the 6 weeks of Lent. This year’s theme is, “The Point of Grace”. Lent is a time of deep introspection, confession, and fasting. It is an ancient practice that seeks to prepare the church for Holy Week and Easter. It is my prayer that as we journey through Lent together, we will find “the point of grace,” in our own lives. I also hope that you use this opportunity to remember those times in your lives when you were at, “the point of grace.” Footnote here … It is the 250 anniversary of the beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace.”
As I close today, my heart is still heavy with the loss of life in Turkey and Syria. The number is reaching 40,000 as of this morning. As crazy as it sounds, my hope has been restored a bit during these days since the earthquake. It is not often that you have survivors, trapped for over 125 hours, come out alive. That, my dear congregation, is a God thing, PURE AND SIMPLE. May all the efforts of rescue/recovery continue to produce this amazing sign of Grace.
Until Sunday, know that you are loved by the same God who is with those workers across the world, pulling people out of the rubble. May you, this week, allow grace to pull you out of the rubble of your own life, to be raised again to new life as we approach this amazing season in the church year. I love being your pastor!
Holding you close and lifting you high!
Pastor Greg
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