Pastor Tom Martin
February, 2012
About Lent
The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday February 22nd, a day when Christians prepare themselves for the Lenten season by confessing their sins and experiencing the imposition of ashes… “from dust you have come, and to dust you shall return.” Historically Lent was a time for training candidates for baptism, a time of penance, fasting, self-denial. Joel 2:12-17 gives us a clue to the meaning of Lent…the purpose of our Lenten journey: “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart.”
The word heart is referred to 814 times in scripture. The heart represents the total person. The journey of the heart toward God is both personal and communal. Joel says to “call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation. Make it holy.” So then, let us consecrate ourselves and our congregation to God. Matthew wrote, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This is true for individuals and is also true for congregations.
Friends, Easter Egg hunts are for kids. The questions we need to ask are, “What are we adults hunting for?” “What treasures of the heart are important to you?” What better time to deal with these questions than Lent.Please join us every Sunday in Lent for worship as we prepare to deal with the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Attend our adult Sunday School class. Read the Bible and pray daily. Return to the Lord with all your heart.
Peace, love and grace,
Tom Martin, Interim Pastor