My brothers and sisters in Christ,
I think it was my Dad who told me that “Life is like your age in mph.” It does seem that way. As I get older, life seems to fly by. According to my Dad, it will only get faster.
I can’t believe we are knocking on the door of Lent. Ash Wednesday is February 18 this year. Below is the schedule for this day. I have mentioned it before, but it is a humbling day for me. I am basically going to tell you that you are going to die. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
But I hope death is not a scary thing to you. I think Ash Wednesday reminds us that we are only travelers on Earth. This is not our final destination. The Lenten season is a time of reflection. A period of time where we look to see where we fall short in our Christian life. Some of us think that the Apostle Paul and the Apostle James are in conflict. Where Paul says, “We are saved by grace…” (Ephesians 2:8), James says, “…so faith without works is dead” (James 2:26b). The question is, “What is it, grace or works?” The answer is “Yes.”
You need to look at their mission. Paul was spreading the Good News. He was teaching and preaching primarily to those who did not know Jesus Christ. James was thought to be teaching and preaching to his congregation, which was dispersed because of persecution. They were established believers, and James was exhorting them to make their lights shine as believers in Jesus Christ.
I think of the passage we read from Matthew’s Gospel this past week. You are salt, you are light, you are a city on the hill. We are saved by grace. Not what we have done but what God has done. The season of Lent is a good time to bring this to the forefront.
But now, it is time to get to work. It’s time to answer our call. It isn’t enough just to know our Christian identity; we need to show it. We need to let our light shine. We need to be enhancers of people’s lives. We are that city on the hill. What are people going to see?
Yes, it is a season to reflect. However, it is a season for us to remember that we are unique and we need others to see it. We know we are saved by grace, no doubt, but it is time to get our feet on the ground and our hands in the air. It is time to go to work.
I know many people give up something during this time. I applaud them, but I always thought it was time to do something. I am going to try to help you with this. Next weekend, I am going to ask the ushers to hand out an activity that is called 40 Intentional Acts. It is broken down by those who have families, spouses, or just themselves. Therefore, there are three categories, and there will be three valuable gift cards for the winners of each category.
Starting Ash Wednesday (no sooner), you (singular or plural) can start working on your Intentional Acts handout. Make sure you put your name on it and get to work marking them off. You have until the start of Holy Week, March 29, to complete them. It is totally on your honor. Put the number that you did next to your name and turn it in. We will award the winner on Easter Weekend. If there is a tie, then we will draw names. Time to let our light shine.
Ash Wednesday Schedule February 18
Drive-by ashes – 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m. service in Liefeld Lounge
6:30 p.m. service in the sanctuary
Don’t forget that we will be doing the Holden Evening Prayer service on the Wednesdays of Lent starting February 25. These services will start at 6:30 p.m.
The church also purchased Lenten Devotionals. Please pick them up if interested, either after service or in the office.
Don’t forget we are still in the season of Epiphany. It is our turn as salt and light, a city on the hill, to make God known. Every day, we should be doing this. This is our call, our purpose.
Cross marked and spirit sealed,
Pastor Tom
815-223-1144
Readings for the Transfiguration of the Lord – February 14 & 15
Exodus 24:12-18 Psalm 2 2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9