We began our Lenten journey this year with a Nor’easter that brought us a foot of snow. Thankfully, we had already decided to postpone our Shrove Tuesday pancake and sausage supper, rebranding it Shrove & Seven and had “breakfast for supper” a week later.

From February 14 to March 28 we will observe the season we refer to as Lent. It is a journey we take together and alone as we, once again, prepare ourselves for Jesus’ betrayal, trial, death and resurrection. It is a solemn observance that invites and encourages us to contemplate what the meaning of Jesus’ time on earth means to us today. It is a time to withdraw from the world for a time of prayer, sacrifice and renewal. Unlike Christmas, which is certainly an “extraverted” time where we spend hours rushing about, decorating, celebrating, lavishing gifts upon friends and relative, Lent is more “introverted,” calling us to examine ourselves in relation to Christ and to others.

This year, our Lenten book study will focus on the book Lent in Plain Sight by Jill Duffield. It is a series of devotionals intended to be read each day during this holy season. We began meeting on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. on Feb. 20 and will continue to March 19. I hope you will consider joining us for this study and thank Peg Lewis for her leadership. If you cannot join us, I encourage you to purchase the book and use it as a private Lenten devotional. It is available at Amazon, or I would be happy to order a copy for you.

We will observe Holy Week starting on Palm Sunday, March 24. Our traditional Maundy Thursday service is at 7 p.m. on March 28, when we remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and the command that he gave them – and us – to love one another as He has loved us. Friday and Saturday are spent waiting, praying and hoping for the joy that dawn brings us on Easter morning, March 31, when we celebrate Christ’s resurrection at our Easter Sunrise service at the Merriman Cemetery at 6:45 a.m. At 10 a.m. we will continue our Easter observance with worship followed by our annual Easter Egg Hunt (rain or shine).

On behalf of our congregation, I invite you to join us for our Lenten, Holy Week and Easter observances.

                                                                In Christ,

                                                                Pastor Sharon