From the Pastor

 Notes from the Pastor…

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:17-19

In the first century Jesus of Nazareth inspired a movement. A community of people whose lives were centered on Jesus Christ and committed to living the way of God’s unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial, and redemptive love. Before they were called “church” or “Christian,” this Jesus Movement was simply called “the way.”

Our calling as a church is to live as the Lutheran expression of the Jesus Movement. But how can we together grow more deeply with Jesus Christ at the center of our lives, so we can bear witness to his way of love in and for the world?

The deep roots of our Christian tradition may offers paths for us today. Lent is one of those paths. Lent is an ancient practice whose traditional focuses are prayer, fasting, and works of love.

I am looking forward to Lent this year. It will be good to get back to soup suppers and gather for Wednesday evening worship using Holden Evening Prayer. The focus for Lent this year will be “The Way of Love: Practices for a Jesus Centered Life.” 

By entering into reflection, discernment and commitment around the practices of Turn – Learn – Pray – Worship – Bless – Go – Rest, I pray we will grow as communities following the loving, liberating, life-giving way of Jesus. His way has the power to change each of our lives and to change this world.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Paul