Our Lenten Journey Has Begun (maybe)
For some of us it began with a cross of ashes on Wednesday. For others it was a promise to fast from something or to do a little something extra each day. Still others began reading or listening to the reflections in the Little Black Book or offered a prayer asking God to truly "change our hearts this time." Or maybe, just maybe, you are only thinking about the Lenten journey right now. That's OK! Lent is a marathon not a sprint, and most likely we will stumble and fall down at some point during this journey. And that's OK too!! Jesus knows what it is to journey and to struggle and to be tempted. Be assured that when we stumble, he is always beside us, offering us the hand of mercy and lifting us back up. This Sunday we hear the story of Jesus in the desert. This is the time of prayer and fasting that Jesus entered into before he began his public ministry. If you haven't started your Lenten journey yet, the desert with Jesus might be the perfect place to begin.
Prayer is one of the 3 traditional practices of Lent. I am hoping to pray in some different ways than I usually do during these next 40 days. My plan is to use Scripture stories about women disciples and pray by reading the words slowly, writing the words slowly, and looking at images of the stories where we find the women mentioned and reflecting on what God is saying to me, or at the very least having a very nice time of quiet with my friend, Jesus who I will invite into my prayer time. We'll see where God leads me, which might be to a different prayer plan entirely because God is funny like that!!
Perhaps you would like to try a new form of prayer during Lent as well, particularly if your current way of spending time with God feels as "dry as the desert". Here is a video by Father Josh about Lectio Divina that might interest you:
Try it with the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Matthew 4:1-11.
OR
Click on the link to read it on the USCCB website: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022623.cfm
Or maybe you'd like to try praying with images of Scripture stories (Visio Divina). Loyola Press has a very nice series of images and reflections for each Sunday of Lent. You can give Week 1 a try here:
And of course there is always praying with music!
What is the song about?
What words or phrases stand out to you?
How does it relate to your life?
Is God calling you to action?
Reflect on these questions as you listen to this tune from Sarah Hart:
To the Desert Follow Me
Remember earlier in the note when I said that my plan isn't always God's plan? Well, the irony of this song is that my plan was to be in Sedona, in the desert, today through next Monday. Bad weather here as well as in Sedona caused us to change our plans, and so I am starting Lent in a different kind of desert... a desert place of letting go of my wants, of not having to always have my way, and realizing that no matter what my plan is, God always has something surprising for me! Seriously, this beautiful snow day has been an unexpected gift of quiet and rest. I'm hoping to be surprised more this Lent! I'm not going to PLAN on it, but I am going to look for God in new and different ways... in the desert of letting go which can be a little bit scary and hard, but I'm not on the journey alone. God is with me and so are YOU!!
Well, Small Faith Groups got off to a bit of a bumpy start between illnesses and snow days, but I am hoping that all 8 of our groups will be in full swing next week. If you are still interested in being part of a Small Faith Group and haven't signed up, Terri Stevenson is starting a group on Sunday at 2:00. Email me at lynp@blessed-midland.org if you would like to join the group and I can get you connected with Terri!
Don't Miss Out
Please join us on March 1 at 7:00 as Edmund Stark helps to illuminate the beauty of the creeds and the glory of God by walking us through the evolution of the fundamental belief statements of our faith. Edmund will begin with the Scriptural references that lead to the earliest of creeds, through the development of the Apostle’s Creed, and then explain why the Nicene Creed was a necessary next step!
SAVE THE DATES
3/7 Synod Listening Session
3/8 Theology by the Glass
3/15 Laidback Book Club Discussion
3/19 New Laidback Book Club Begins
3/20 Faith Beautifully Crafted
I'm looking forward to hiking this desert journey with you, and coming upon all of the surprises that God has waiting for us along the way! Feel free to share how God is surprising you during these 40 days!
With Hope and Joy,
lyn