Message from the Pastor

February 2010

This winter seems to be colder and longer than usual. There seems to be more snow than in other years and I start looking forward to spring time and to warmer temperatures and green trees again. It would be nice to just fast forward and leave these cold days behind.

Likewise it would be nice to fast forward and celebrate Easter already. But then there is Lent. This may be the most uncomfortable time in the church year; a time that we would probably like to skip because during Lent we are asked to examine ourselves, our relationships with others and with God. It is all about repentance.

The tools for this seven-week journey of repentance are alms giving, fasting, and praying. These seven weeks can be transformational if we move through them consciously. Almsgiving, for example, is not only about charity. Originally, there were two forms of almsgiving: giving to the poor, but also forgiving those who hurt us. One of the first bishops in the church said, “We learn from our Lord’s teaching in the gospel how we should impart the remedies of true charity to our enemies, even though they do not ask for it.” True almsgiving is charity and sharing the generosity of God. Fasting and prayer can bring us back to basics and put our needs, or whatever we consider our needs, into perspective and help us to see ourselves and our daily actions in a new and clearer light.

We cannot fast forward to spring or to Easter, but we can go through this given time intentionally with the means of almsgiving, fasting and praying. We can work on the things that weigh on us and on our relationships, and eventually celebrate on Easter with a free, unburdened heart.

Archived Messages

February 2010
January 2010
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June 2009