Friday, February 5, 2016

Lenten Invitation

“Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful,
 slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.”
Joel 2:13

Do you recognize these words from the prophet Joel?  We hear them every year at our Ash Wednesday service as we begin our Lenten journey.  We also sing them every Sunday throughout Lent, prior to hearing the reading of the Gospel.  Return to the Lord your God.  The emphasis of Lent is to turn, or re-turn, to God.  Day in and day out, the world has our attention.  Lent calls us to turn our attention to God.  The demands of our lives are constantly turning our focus outward.  Lent invites us to turn our focus inward, that we might focus on Jesus and our relationship with him.

Throughout the forty days of Lent, we invite you to pause for reflection.  Use the gifts of the church to help you re-turn to God.  There are opportunities for prayer, worship, and bible study.  This Lent, return to the Lord your God, and discover the One who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

Peace, 

Pastor Summer

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