“I didn’t come to call righteous people but sinners to change their hearts and lives.” Luke 5:31

Dear Friends:

LENT INTENT begins next week. For the forty days and forty nights of Lent, we’re intentional about drawing deeper into our relationship with God. Forty days and nights of Lent are deliberately intense. We self-examine. We fast. We practice a discipline. Why? Because we long for God. Because we passionately desire to draw into a deeper understanding of God in Christ in our life. So, we embrace the practice of Lent. Lent is intense. Why? Because through our various disciplines, and self-examination we open ourselves to let Jesus in. Lent is not easy. Expect forty days and forty nights being tent-bound with Christ to examine your soul, explore your mind, and nurture your heart. Then, on Easter Sunday, emerge from your tent and give thanks for Jesus Christ, God incarnate, born among us, with us, bringing us a love so intent he’s willing to die upon the cross, and rise from the dead in glorious celebration with the promise of love and life eternal…FOR US!

Do LENT INTENT…

Start with your LENT INTENT road map. You’ll receive a hard copy in worship on Sunday. As well, the LENT INTENT road map can be found on EpiphanyEC.org/lentintent.

Feast before we fast. Come next Tuesday March 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Scout Troop 1257 is preparing a pancake supper. We’re eating all those carbs and sugars to make way for cleansing diets. All are invited and the Scouts will be asking for a donation to support the troop, should you wish.

We sin.  Ashes are our public statement of our pleading to God for forgiveness from our sins. Scripture tells us (Genesis 2:7), God forms humankind from the dust of the earth. Ashes are a sign of our brief mortality. How, as creatures of God’s loving hand do we want to live in our lifetime? Get your ashes Wednesday March 6th at 7:00 a.m. during drive by prayers in the chapel; drive by at noon in the Giant Food parking lot and 1:00 at Epiphany’s parking lot and 7:00 p.m. in the worship space. Let your ashes be a public admission of your sin and your public intention to repent in Lent.

Fast. Declutter and bring a bag a day to the back of the worship space. Give up caffeine, alcohol, social media, screen. What would forty days without judgement or condemnation look like?

Take on. Come to Wednesday night Interfaith Pot Luck Dinner and Dialogue at 6:00 p.m. every week in Lent and grow in the spirit with our neighboring friends who practice the Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Come on Sundays to old fashioned Bible Study table talks in the back of the worship space at 11:30, immediately following worship. Let Hillary know you’d like to write a daily reflection and prayer or two: clergy@epiphanyec.org. Worship every week! Families, try Lent in a Bag at home, ready for you to pick up on Sunday in Family Worship. Youth, try following Lent’s Intense calendar. There’s more. Attend Women’s Bible study March 27th at 7:30 p.m. Attend Parent Support Group March 17, 5:00-7:00 and share your thoughts on Lenten disciplines.

Lent is intent. Lent is intense. Lent’s in tents. Now, we are Easter people; a resurrected people; a people of Christ, made new through the sacrifice of Christ for us. Being made new comes from intentional disciplines that take us into an intimate relationship with Christ. Do LENT INTENT and awaken to the newness of Christ’s love for each of us!

Before Lent begins, we’ll gather Sunday for traditional 8:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, followed by 10:00 a.m. Family Worship. We’ll get ready as we hide the Alleluias as a sign that we take Lent seriously as we prepare with anticipation for Easter. Think of hiding the alleluias as putting away a favorite toy or game and then discovering it anew on Easter…it means all the more!

Friendship Café is preparing a hamburger hotdog feast following worship with holy donuts!  Last call for holy donuts until Easter!

On Sunday we’ll also give thanks and praise for Dante Wang as the newest member of the body of Christ through the sacrament of Baptism. Come, support Dante at 10:00 a.m. in his baptismal vows.

Celtic Worship Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. prepares us for Lent with the sacred music of Melissa Woodhead on the harp and Jiji Park on the piano. This candle lit worship in the dimness of the night settles our hearts and minds and souls for our journey.

God is good all the time.  All the time, God is good.  See you on Sunday dear ones.

Blessings,

Hillary