Not everyone who reads our newsletter actually attends church. For a variety of reason, people who once called First United Methodist Church their home seem to make it more of a time-share rental rather than a home.
We know some people change jobs that force them to move away. As much as we hate to lose them, we understand the dynamics of the economy and the need to seek employment in different markets. Those folks go with our blessings and prayers as God leads them in new directions. We love to welcome them back when they can stop by to visit.
Then there are some people who tend to drift away from the church little by little. Their once regular routine of Sunday morning Sunday School and worship gets replaced by any number of activities that seem more compelling or vital.
The 40-day season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, two weeks ago. Lent historically was a time when people who had drifted away from God returned to church and to God. It was also a time when faithful Christians sought to grow their faith as they prepared to commemorate Christ’s death and to celebrate his resurrection on Easter.
My hope and prayer is that this Lent will be a time for both those who may have drifted away from church, and for all of us to grow in our faith as we focus this Lent on the Final Week of Jesus’ life. That is why I am preaching on the Final Week of Jesus’ life all the Sundays leading to Easter.
Most of us are familiar with the Palm Sunday episode (especially since I preached it this past Sunday) and the Good Friday account of Christ’s passion on the cross. But there are a lot of meaningful and challenging teachings between those two days. We will sit at Jesus’ feet as he teaches on Marriage, Taxes, the End of the Age and Final Judgment. Then we will walk along with Jesus seeing him anointed with oil and tears while being Betrayed by a friend. As the cross loomed ahead, we will sit with him for one Last Supper and experience the agony of his time in prayer in Two Gardens only to be arrested and placed on Trial, Condemned by the populous and Nailed to a cross between two thieves.
As I said, a lot took place that final week of his life. All of it has great purpose and meaning for our lives today. Make Lent be a time of either returning to God for renewal and inspiration or a period of deeper renewal of an already strong and vibrant faith.
Be sure to invite someone to join you at the renewing place on Sunday,
