Lent 2017

Once you were in darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Ephesians 5:8

The long gospel reading from John 9 is about a man who was born blind. Jesus helps him, and a long discussion follows. All the old concerns are in place about authority and propriety, who gets credit, who gets thanked. As we meditate on the reading we can feel the lengthy scripture readings of Holy Week getting closer.

The children of light need to hear the words that bring light into their lives. These are the days we open our hearts and let in the light of God’s word.

Some reminders: be quiet worshipers and an active church members.

First of all, come to church. Then sit quietly and wait for the word to be read to you. This is the word of life for your Christian heart. Come reverently to the altar and receive the eternal life of Christ which takes away the sin of the world, the sin of your heart.

In these last weeks of Lent and into the Easter season look for visitors in worship. Speak to them. Say hello, my name is ______. Thank them for coming. Invite them to coffee. Introduce them to someone else. Don’t just hang out with your friends. Greet someone you don’t know. Be the kind of person that a visitor might want to see again next week. Make a good impression. Go out of your way. Be an active church member.

Invite someone to church. Help them to find a way into the life of the congregation.

The choir rehearses Sunday at 8:45 am.

Bring in nonperishables for the Wayland Food Pantry, diapers and wipes for the diaper drive.

The adult forum during the faith formation hour will be a discussion based on the ELCA Lenten study. The session for this Sunday asks us to think about the meaning of justice.

Pinoy Reading Buddies book packing tomorrow, Saturday, March 25 beginning at 9 am. Confirmation students will meet with Pastor Johnson during the morning.

The Peace Walkers will take part in the annual Walk to end homelessness on April 8. Here’s the link to their webpage. http://walk.familypromisemetrowest.org/teampage.asp?fundid=317#.WNV8nOQ2zwp Speak to Andrea McDonald for more information.

The Ruth House fashion show and luncheon is Sunday, April 30 at Lombardo’s in Randolph. Learn more about this from Marisa Lutz.

Scale model of the Jerusalem temple as Jesus would have known it. Israel Museum

Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down…Matthew 4:5.

Sunday we hear about Jesus tempted by the devil. Our Lord finds himself up against some of the things that tend to distort our lives in small and big ways–recognition, power, prestige. We will look at the passage through the lens of the Lord’s Prayer, which includes the line, Lead us not into temptation. Lent is a traditional time to think about Christian teachings as they apply to our personal, spiritual lives.

During the season of Lent, the music that accompanies our word-and-sacrament worship changes a little. The season of Lent has the character of the Kyrie, which accepts and declares that we have lived our lives without thinking of God’s law of love and of God’s promises of life. In the first part of the service we omit the hymn of praise, which normally follows the Kyrie. We add a little more silence for reflection and meditation. The Gospel acclamation changes to a Lenten form.

I hope you will all make an effort to attend the morning service during Lent. As you serve God and the other members of the congregation by attending, you are served by the word and the sacraments, the food and fuel of your Christian spiritual life.

Choir practice at 8:45 am.

Wayland Food Pantry collection in Lent: soap.

The forum during the 11 am hour will be sabbatical planning. Pastoral sabbaticals can be important growing times in the life of a congregation. New relationships are formed between members. Leadership roles are accepted. During sabbatical months, congregations can change and grow in ways that last far into the future. If you would like to serve on a sabbatical committee, speak to Jordan Mueller, Marisa Lutz or to another member of the congregation.

Family Promise host weeks begin Sunday. We will pray a prayer of blessing for all the families and volunteers. The youth of the congregation will collect quarters for the laundromat.