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February 06, 2008

Ash Wednesday Message

Good afternoon everyone,

Some of you have inquired about our Ash Wednesday Service this evening. I am sitting at Joyce's computer looking out at the snow coming down like it did last Sunday and the forecast calls for more until 6:00pm this evening.

Not wanting to wait too late to make this decision, I think it best for all concerned if we cancel this evening's Ash Wednesday service.

Our focus for this year's service comes from Psalm 51 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21. (take a moment and read these passages).
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me."

Lent provides Christians an opportunity to do some "spring" (obviously this is loosely translated) cleaning. And from these two passages, we see that from God's perspective, the most important place to start, and end, is with our heart. The heart's commit is profound. The heart's influence is immense. A person's heart cannot be measured. It's an intangible... Much like the New York Giants defeat of the New England Patriots in this year's Super Bowl. On paper, it looked like it would be a cake walk, but the Giants had the heart to make it happen and so it did.

We often think of the giving up something for Lent (you know chocolate, meat, etc.). And sometimes as a church, we often over schedule Lent so that people are exhausted when it is over. What we need to find is balance and we find balance when we are spiritually fit.
In Matthew's gospel, Jesus is teaching about various spiritual disciplines--prayer, giving, and fasting. Fasting and prayer are traditional spiritual disciplines associated with Lent. All forms of spiritual disciplines help us make space for God in our lives. And fasting and prayer, the traditional spiritual disciplines of Lent, seem to be two of the most effective tools in clearing away our preoccupation with ourselves so we can be more alert and responsive to God.

This Lent, I encourage you to open yourself up to God's cleansing love...however that works for you. Maybe you want to spend 15 minutes in the morning meditation on a portion of Psalm 51; maybe you want to attend our Thursday night informal worship service and Adult Study where we will explore what it means to open ourselves up to God for renovation; maybe you want to fast for a 24 hour period, breaking the fast with a community meal; maybe you need to let something go that is causing you or someone you love pain...

Psalm 51 closes with this--"Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings..." As we journey together this Lent, my prayer for us is that we will let go of those things that separate us from God, from our best selves, from each other in this community, and from the sisters and brothers we've yet to meet. I also pray that we will allow God to rebuild those places in us that need to be repaired so that our lives will be a sacrifice that is pleasing to God. Amen.

FYI:
We are still planning to have our first Lent Worship Service followed by an Bible Study tomorrow night (maybe the weather will give us a little break!). Come join us to this in the upstairs chapel.

Lovingly,

Pastor Vickie

Posted by vickie at 02:34 PM