Lent

Ash Wednesday, February 25th, begins the season of Lent. Lent lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays when we commemorate the Resurrection) and ends with Holy Week on Maundy Thursday. I can remember growing up being very excited about Lent. It was a time when our family truly revolved around the church. There was extra music so both the youth choir and the adult choir had very serious practices besides going to Lenten suppers and services. Sundays were connected to the season with more anticipation toward Easter and spring. As a child I remember feeling closer to Jesus in that time of Lent. It was a time when we really studied the person of Jesus. The music, the colors, the scriptures all called us to a closer relationship with the Lord.

This year, once again, we will gather around the themes of Lent. We will pray, and sing and study. Lent is a time to focus in on your relationship with Jesus. May you center on the church and may you approach with anticipation the devotion of the season of Lent.

Come to Jesus

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls” --Matthew 11:28-29

Stress and anxiety seem to be on the rise. It could be the times, with all the economic and housing crises. It could be that those events began the cycle of unemployment, high cost of living and salary freezes. It could also be that as we have become more and more busy, more and more focused on things instead of relationships, and more and more away from church, that the stress and anxiety have raised. I hate to sound legalistic, but that is what some are saying. They are saying that with the turn away from God and church, we were bound for this recession.

I don’t know. But this I do know – Jesus is the answer. You know what relieves stress? Jesus relieves stress, for in him you will find rest. You know what lowers anxiety? Jesus lowers anxiety because he is humble and gentle. It doesn’t always just happen, but how can it happen if you aren’t in relationship with him? This is the day to remove some things from your life in order to make room for the most important.

In this time of stress and anxiety, come, be with us at Abiding Love for worship and fellowship. Together we face the day. We laugh. We cry. We pray. We come to the table. Come.