Ash Wednesday on March 1 begins our six-week journey to Easter where we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Lent is designed to be a time of preparation to fully experience the power of the one who brings life out of death. In Sunday worship, we will use the lectionary scriptures for this journey. When you survey these scriptures, you discover several elements of the earth are represented. We have the ashes for Ash Wednesday begin the season. The first Sunday of Lent has Jesus in the desert wilderness. The following Sunday the Spirit is compared to the wind. Jesus even plays in the mud a couple Sunday’s later. So, we are calling this the Landscape of Lent and will use the natural elements to help us remember these powerful Biblical stories and let them work their way into our hearts. Here is the list of scriptures and elements:
ASHES: Ash Wednesday, March 1 - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
WILDERNESS: March 2/5 - Matthew 4:1-11
WIND: March 9/12 - John 3:1-10,12,16-17
WATER: March 16/19 - John 4:5-42
MUD: March 23/26 - John 9:1-41
CAVE: March 30 / April 2 - John 11:32-46
PALMS: April 6/9 - Matthew 21:1-11
Pastor Jerry’s Lenten Challenge
As we did last Lenten season, I invite you during the six weeks of Lent to join me in a two-meal fast one day each week. I will be skipping Friday breakfast and lunch and then eating Friday dinner, but do what best fits your schedule. The purpose is not to prove anything to God but focus our hearts and minds on God instead of food. Use that extra time for prayer, reflection, reading of scripture or a great book. You will be surprised how a little hunger can bring you into the presence of God.
For a full list of Lenten activities and events, visit ... www.NoblesvilleFirst.com/Lent
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