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3/15/2011 |
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From Pastor Richard’s Desk March 2011
Ash Wednesday
 What do ashes have to do with Ash Wednesday? With Ash Wednesday fast coming upon us on March 9th, that’s not a bad question to ask. Quite simply, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent that leads up to Easter. It inaugurates a spiritual journey that prepares our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection.
At one in the same time, the ashes are a reference to the ashes from which we came and to which we will return. They also serve as a reminder of our sins. Sin properly understood is not an old fashion way of humbly us by beating ourselves up with ever personal shortcoming. Sin is reflection of our relationship with the Lord of our lives.
Let me explain. One of the more helpful ways of understanding sin is anything that separates us from God. It’s as powerful a definition as it is simple. Brothers and sisters, what better place to begin a journey to the cross than with an understanding of the sin to which Christ’s sacrifice responds?
As we gather around the tables in the Charter Room the evening of Ash Wednesday we’ll do so mindful of the life into which we have been ushered owing to the atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What a privilege it is to be the objects of God’s loving grace and affection.
Join us on the evening of Ash Wednesday and let us start our journey to the cross of Christ together.
Grace and peace to you all, |
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2/11/2011 |
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Are you ready for the snow to stop? Believe it or not, up until about Christmas the thought crossed my mind that it might actually be a light winter this year. It hadn’t snowed and depending upon how one calculates it, we were about a third or so through the snowy part of winter with no sign of snow. We only had January and February to go. How much snow could we be in for? Don’t answer that question.
What I did was to assume that the future was going to be like the past. That tomorrow would be like yesterday and that all would be well. In a broken world, a fallen world, such assumptions can come at a dear price.
All this unexpected snow reminds me of the words of God’s servant Isaiah. It was Isaiah who ironically used the uncertainty in life to assure God’s people that all would be well. Isaiah addressed a people who had experienced exile from their beloved homeland and wanted nothing more than to return home. It was Isaiah who stated on behalf of God,
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you” (Isa. 54:10).
Our Lord knows that in this fallen world “mountains shake”. In other words, things happen that we don’t want to happen and yet through it all, our God’s love is unfailing. When you’re facing the angst and uncertainty of life, when you’re faced with difficult circumstances; remember Isaiah’s words.
Be assured that our Lord’s love and compassion, His covenant of peace to which we belong, is not shaken by the passing, ephemeral circumstances we encounter through life. Rather, in the words of our Lord, “…my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed…”
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