Easter Lily Sale

Lent

Lent, the forty days before Easter, is a season of preparation and renewal. In the scriptures the number forty relates to the period spent in the Ark by Noah, the period spent by Israel seeking the Promised Land after the Exodus, and the amount of time Jesus was in the Wilderness after his baptism and prior to beginning his ministry. Begin your Lenten journey with us on Ash Wednesday, February 22.

Join Us for the Call Him Savior Lenten Bible Study

You're invited to join us as we study, explore, and reflect on the meaning and purpose of the Lenten season. Lent is a time of preparation during the liturgical year starting from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The tradition of this season is that through prayer and repentance we come to recall the events that led up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. We come to a deeper understanding of our need to have a life in Christ. We will examine Scripture from the Old and New Testaments as well as the Epistles. Our first study will be on Ash Wednesday, Feb 22. That day we will meet at 11a.m. and end in time to go to the noon Ash Wednesday service if you desire. The remaining classes will be from 9:15 -10:30 a.m. in room 224 on Wednesday mornings (Feb 29, Mar 14, 21, 28, Apr 4, and 11. No class on Mar 7). Come and explore with us. For more information or to sign up please contact Rev. Erik Mays at ext 7871.

To Give Up or To Give In

-Rev. Erik Mays

February, 2012

It feels like we just wrapped up Christmas, right? I’m still finding Christmas tree needles allover the house! Soon we will turn our attention to the season of Lent – a time of preparation,repentance, and spiritual discipline. We will explore the journey Jesus took to the cross andultimately celebrate the magnificent resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

But, before we get to that celebration, we must prepare ourselves. Lent lasts 40 days (notincluding Sundays). We will begin on “Ash Wednesday,” which is February 22nd. Many people, including myself, decide to “give up” something during Lent. Why? Does it remind you of the sacrifice Jesus made on your behalf? I think it can. Does it give you a new perspective ofwhat it means to “go without” something for an extended period of time? I think it can.

And maybe more importantly, does giving something up for Lent challenge you to “give in” to God? I hope it does. By letting go of something, you free yourself to put something newon – to give in to something. It draws you closer to God in new ways.Giving something up for Lent is not for everyone and that’s ok (there have been years Ihaven’t).

And in more recent years, people have made the decision to “give in” or take something new on during Lent that is much needed, such as exercising more, reading your Bible more, etc. I’ve also tried this practice in previous years instead of giving up something.

This year I’m trying something new and I hope you will join me. I’m going to do both. I haven’t made up my mind what I will “give up.” And, I’m not going to “give in” to somethingright away. I’m going to watch how what I “give up” changes my attitude and perception ofthings. My hope is that by Easter I will have discovered how what I decided to “give up” hasspiritual challenged me to “give in” to something new for the long haul. Journey On!