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Lent Isn't Easy

3/24/2020

Lent means Love, Encourage, Never give up, Trust

The season of Lent is a difficult one for me. It is especially hard this year, as Ash Wednesday, February 26th, would have been my Mom’s 89th birthday. Twenty-two years ago, my Dad died on Ash Wednesday, February 25th. I really miss my parents and I am so thankful that they brought me up in the Christian faith.

This Lenten journey has become even more difficult for me with the COVID-19 pandemic. I am sad and confused. I miss seeing my kids and grandkids, and especially my “Sadie hugs”. I also miss being with my church family. Yes, we can connect through texts, phone calls, and Facebook, but it is not the same.

Even when I seem to stumble and fall, and wonder why do I feel this way? I know that God is always by my side. God is ALWAYS with me. For me, Lent means –

L – Love
Love one another as Christ has loved us! (John 15:12)
E – Encourage
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
N – Never give up….Keep the faith.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)
T – Trust
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Easter is April 12th and marks the end of the 40 days of Lent. So as we continue this journey through Lent may we all find comfort in our Risen Lord!

Julie Klein
Office Administrator

Lenten Discipline: Gratitude

3/10/2020

Last Summer I spent 2 weeks in Tanzania, a country the size of Texas in East Africa. I was there with 20 other MN musicians who met with 35 Tanzanian musicians to put on 4 concerts throughout one of the dioceses there. There are so many things I could write about from that trip-- believe me, the choir is tired of the stories. However, one story came to mind that seems a bit different for a time of Lent.

One town we stayed in is at the outskirts of the district and diocese where we were staying. It was about 2 hour drive from the Lutheran Centre where we were staying in the city of Iringa. In fact, this was the last stop before we went on safari--not far from the gates of Ruaha National Park. Being so close to the park, there were lions that came through the town some nights and would occasionally eat unprotected livestock. Luckily the incidents involving people were few, but it does happen.

The town is very remote, but it does see travelers and gains income from tourists, but there isn't as much income as the needed, so many take the 5:00 AM bus back to Iringa. The road is so dusty that we Americans wore bandannas to cover our mouths. The road is extremely bumpy that some of us get woozy on our way there. However, people packed onto this commuter bus which went from town to town picking up people to take them to work every day.

I saw these lions were just a few miles from the town of Tungamalenga.

3 hours.
On a packed bus.
Each way.

The people who commuted in this way never complained about it. They were so grateful for the blessing to be able to provide food for their family that they gladly spent 6 hours on a bus to work for 8 hours. And when they got home there were lions!

It put many things in perspective for me. This Lent, many of the musicians are working through a time of gratitude. We are making paper chains that each link is something we are grateful for, big or small. Not only is it a good reminder to be grateful, but our gratitude is linked to others.

Snowflakes with Things My Family Is Grateful For

Here are some of the items my family has been grateful for so far.

At home, my kids, wife, and I are also doing the same thing. It was supposed to start around Christmas, hence the snowflakes, but I digress. You can see that while my 6 and 3 year olds may not get the entirety of gratitude, they are learning to be thankful for all the blessings we have. While I get to see what my little ones think about and watch their writing progress.

Now, since going to Tanzania I still get upset when I get cut off in traffic, but I'm reminded of the great gifts God has given me...a car, great roads, that it reframes getting cut off on the road.

This is our Lenten discipline. What's your Lenten discipline? If you don't have one, I recommend writing down one thing you are grateful for every day. It really helps us to focus on the gifts from God.

Sean Johnson
Handbell and Choir Director

Lenten Discipline

3/3/2020

We have now entered into the season of Lent, a time of contemplation, of focus on prayer and spiritual discipline. Lent is the traditional time when, in the ancient church, those who wished to be baptized would undertake their study of Christianity. This was an intense time of fasting, prayer, and education, which culminated in a celebratory baptismal festival at the Easter Vigil, the night before Easter.

As infant baptism became the norm, this time of intensive instruction of the “catechumenate” became less common. However, we still see remnants of it in our practice of instruction for people (often young people) preparing to affirm their faith (known as “Confirmation”.) It is also seen in our focus on fasting, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines during Lent.

It is also seen in our focus on fasting, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines during Lent.

As we move through this season, we will explore in worship and in our Bible studies the Marks of Discipleship. What distinguishes you as a disciple? What are the marks of Jesus that are on you as a believer that are clear to all who meet you? Is it your grace-filled ability to forgive? Or your tendency to lean on God in faith, rather than needing to see to believe? Are your practices, such as prayer, generosity, or fasting, an example to the believers?

No matter where we are in our faith journey, we are beloved by God, and we are called by God to even deeper discipleship. Come walk together with us this Lent, as we explore where God is calling us individually, and as a community.

Lent Isn't Easy

Lenten Discipline: Gratitude

Lenten Discipline

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