As we turn the corner into March this week, we enter into the countdown to Easter!  This is by far the biggest Sunday of the year for the Church around the world.  Easter, in fact, is the reason we gather week by week on Sundays.  Jesus arose on a Sunday and now we gather each week on Sunday to recall and reflect on that one important day and the ONE who walked out of the tomb that morning.  Yet we would be missing the point if we only celebrated that one day.  Easter, I believe, serves as reminder and a relaunch of our entire year worshiping a Resurrected Savior.  In much the same way we have Advent to prepare us to celebrate Christmas, we have the season of Lent to prepare us for Easter.  Lent should draw us into the Easter celebration in order for Easter and a Risen Lord to launch us into a year of faithfully following Christ’s example!

All of that to say, I want to invite you to join us this year for our countdown through Lent.  This year we will be focusing on our need to be emptied.  We will be counting down to empty…an empty cross, an empty tomb, emptied of ourselves…to be filled with a Resurrected Savior!  We will once again be gathering each Wednesday for a light meal at 6:00 pm.  From 6:45-7:45 each week, we will be either spending time in prayer, worship, and reflection on what it means to empty ourselves to make room for Jesus or we will be spending our time focused on serving others and blessing them.  (see schedule of activities on bulletin board) Our hope is that through these family-friendly times, we will prepare ourselves to receive anew the fullness of Jesus on Easter!  I hope you will be able to join us as we launch into this countdown!

One other opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice and suffering of Jesus for you will be on Good Friday.  We will be showing The Passion of the Christ on the big screen in the sanctuary.  The movie will begin at 7:00 pm and provide a chance for you to come, watch, pray, and reflect in silence.  Whether for 5 minutes or the full 2 hours, we invite you to come and spend some time reflecting on Jesus that night.

Personally, I’m also counting down to a new baby!  It’s a season of countdowns in our household but it’s exciting to see God at work as He grows our family and as He works in the lives of our church family!  I hope you are living in expectation of what God will do in your life as you seek Him this Easter season!

Have a great week as you walk in the example Jesus has called you to!  See you Wednesday at the Dwelling Place!

In Christ Alone,

Pastor Jan