2 Timothy 1:9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

My mom is an avid journal keeper. She illustrates them with beautiful watercolor paintings, and you can often find her crafting and binding her own books. Every liturgical season, she creates one of these journals. Today, she sent me a beautiful picture of her Lenten Journal. I hate to admit it, but my first thought was, “Oh crud, it’s that time again.”

Now, I’m the first to celebrate the liturgy. I love the ritual. I love the practice. I love the connection of all of us doing something together. So, why the reaction? Because sometimes, it feels like just one more thing. One more daily devotional, prayer, pious thought, or sacrifice when it feels like we have quite enough going on.

Beyond this, if I miss a day of whatever I’ve committed to do to practice Lent (note: rather than give something up during Lent, I typically try to commit to some new practice to draw closer to God), I begin feeling guilty and like I’ve failed God. Then, I double-down and recommit to catching up, working twice as hard, and end up all the more frustrated, exhausted, and riddled with guilt.

Could be wrong here, but I think I’m missing the purpose of Lent. I think my way is just going through the motions, completing tasks, and checking things off the list, rather than really growing closer to God. It’s not about committing to that Bible study that you’ll be able to squeeze in between the last work meeting and putting the baby to bed. It’s not about how many Bible verses you can memorize in 40 days. It’s not about how many journal pages you fill. It’s not about finally trying to make your way through all 40 of those daily Lenten devotionals you’ve been trying to complete for the past 10 years.

This year, I’m committing to doing Lent differently. This year, I’m going to open myself up to really experiencing the grace of God. Hearing loud and clear, that I am enough. Maybe I’ll write in a journal. Maybe I’ll read some more scripture. Maybe I’ll read a few of those Lenten devotionals. And maybe I won’t. Because this year, I think I’ve already practiced Lent more than any other year and it’s not even Ash Wednesday. Why? Because this year, I gave up my get gold stars for God mentality, and instead, I’m going to embrace his gift – grace.

Emalee Sugano

Lord, May all those that feel they’ve lost their connection to you, or feel like they need to earn their keep with just one more commitment, truly find you, find your grace, and celebrate your connection. Exactly as they are, and exactly as you are. Amen.

“Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do choose. Be made clean.’ Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. ‘Go’, he said, ‘and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.’ But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.” Luke 5:12-16

Jesus was no ordinary person and there was nothing ordinary about his life. Once he started preaching, teaching, and healing in Galilee, life was a series of new towns, new people, and new opportunities. Even still, it seems that some patterns repeated themselves often enough as to become “regular.” He would arrive in a new place, speak to a gathering crowd, provide relief with words and deeds, and repeat this each day until the crowds were overwhelming. To maintain his balance he would rise early each day to go off by himself to pray. I think of this as a time of literal “regrouping” with (as) the fullness of God’s being.

There has been nothing ordinary about the last 11 months. We have had to learn how to live our lives in very intentional ways. We have had to be creative in how we do our work and maintain our relationships. And then, when we think we have a handle on things, researchers and leaders share new information and discoveries which require some adjustments. We have wonderful news in the information about vaccines and the acquiring of more doses, but this just makes our anxiety go from just “how do I avoid getting the virus?” to “and how do my loved ones get the vaccine when it is time?”

Yet even in all of this, there have been moments when it feels, well, routine if not ordinary. We refuse to accept this as the “new normal” but we have fallen into some regular patterns. We have needed grace to address these extraordinary times, perhaps we need even more when the outrageous becomes mundane. Like Jesus, we need to withdraw for prayer. We need balance. We need to remember who we are.

And so Lent comes at the perfect time. In the early church, the Springtime preparation for recalling the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus provided an opportunity for those who had withdrawn or become isolated from the community of faith to ready themselves for a return. We who have, through no fault of our own, been cut off from one another and from the regularity of our existence now prepare to return.

So we will take some time with God. We will, these 40 days of Lent, spend time with Jesus in the last days of his earthly ministry, as he accomplished his work and prepared to return to the fullness of God. I invite you to mark the beginning of this journey at our Drive-Through Ash Wednesday service, and then  withdraw a little further (even as we join together) to reflect on Adam Hamilton’s book, 24 Hours that Changed the World.

You are extraordinary people living in unusual times! God will get us through this together!

Loving God, move in us as we prepare for this Lenten journey. Help us to see all of the ways you guide and bless us in these strange days, so that we may be a channel of your mercy, peace, and love. As we prepare to slowly return to life in each others’ presence, help us to know that you remain present with us all our days. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Sunday’s Questions:
1. What apparent contradictions disturb you?
2. How has God revealed God’s nature to you over the course of your life?
3. How might you gain more understanding of God?

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1  

Back in November I learned about the idea of a virtual pageant. I thought this would be a great way for us to do the pageant this year in a safe way. What also caught my attention with this was that it would allow people of all ages to participate. So, I ventured into the unknown of the video technical world. As it was beginning to come together, and people of all ages were participating and excited about this, I realized something bigger than just creating a pageant was happening. Even though we weren’t together at all, we were still all able to work together towards a common goal. In a pandemic kind of way, we were together. This pageant achieved way more than I had expected when the whole idea began.

Well, another major Christian holiday, Easter, is quickly approaching and so I began to look for ways that all ages and abilities could once again be together while still staying safely apart. In my search, I found some coloring pages designed for a group. The coloring pages, when put together, build a poster that is split into sections, so everyone has their own part of the poster and then when all the sections are put together you have a beautiful piece of art. For some people coloring can be a very calming experience. For others it is a great way to focus their thoughts and intentions while praying. When our hands are busy, and our eyes are on the paper, discussions can feel safer and the people involved can feel less vulnerable. So, for those that have others living in the house together, it can also be a great way to encourage conversation within your home. Together you might wonder.  What do you think the poster will say? You might share how it feels to work collaboratively or what Easter means to you. The questions and conversations can spark some meaningful discussions and an opportunity to share your faith with each other.

Everyone, all ages, and abilities, are invited to be a part of the All-Church Collaborative Coloring Project that will take place during Lent and culminate on Easter. The coloring pages and crayons will be available to pick up Feb. 17th at the drive through Ash Wednesday service. Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 23^rd you may come by the church office and pick up a packet. For those who would be more comfortable with a no contact delivery please contact the church office. We will be happy to deliver the supplies to your porch. When you have completed your coloring page please drop them off at the office no later than March 29^th. There are plenty of coloring pages, so you are welcome to come back for more.

I am excited to see our finished project on Easter morning and to feel the warmth that will come over me when I think about how we as a community were together even though we were apart.  

Creative God, thank you for the gift of creativity so that we can continue to find ways to be together in this time when the limits set are many and challenging. We are grateful that you have uniquely created us to be our own self and yet we are able to still come together to celebrate you. 
In your name we pray, amen.

Marty