2021 March Newsletter - pastor's column

March Newsletter – pastor’s column

John Knox Family,

We have entered the season of Lent – rather unceremoniously, as the weather impacted our choice about Ash Wednesday and the first Sunday of Lent. I’d like us to remember the purpose of Lent. The Book of Common Worship connects Lent (old English word for springtime) with the lengthening of days in this Northern Hemisphere, and with the concept of growing in faith. In the early church Lent was a time of preparation of converts for baptism and inclusion in the church. During the Easter Vigil, the new Christians were examined in their faith by the elders. If approved, they were baptized and then received their first communion. The season of Lent continues to be a time of growing in faith through spiritual practices, prayer, study, and self-examination. The entire community of faith is invited to reflect on the theme of baptismal discipleship.

Lent’s 40 days (the Sundays aren’t counted) are a reminder of the flood, the wandering in the wilderness, Jonah’s call for repentance to Nineveh, Jesus’ time in the wilderness, and other stories. Our color is purple for repentance. So, in the words from the Ash Wednesday service, “I invite you, therefore, in the name of Jesus Christ, to observe a holy Lent by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by works of love, and by meditating on God’s word.”

Grace and peace, Pastor Carol

Time change – Sunday, March 14 – “Spring forward”