Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Message from the Church Council President

2/8/2005
By: Holy Trinity Lutheran

The Season of Lent is of course a time for introspection, for self-examination, and repentance, in preparation for Easter and the Resurrection of our Lord. The forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday (excluding the Sundays in between, as we must) are said to reflect the traditional number of days used to depict discipline, devotion, and preparation in the Bible.

We recall that Moses stayed on the mountain of God forty days (Exodus 24:18 and 34:28). Those who were sent to explore Canaan did so for forty days (Numbers 13:25). Elijah traveled forty days before he reached the cave where he had his vision (1 Kings 19:8). Nineveh was given forty days to repent (Jonah 3:4), and most importantly, prior to undertaking his ministry, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness praying and fasting (Matthew 4:2).

What will these forty days of Lent mean for you? What will they mean for our church? Fittingly, during the month of February Council will begin the journey of examining and pursuing in earnest the goals of the church for this year, as presented at the January congregational meeting.

While somewhat diverse in their nature, these goals all have as their underlying purpose the creation of more avenues for the congregation and the surrounding community to deepen its spirituality, whether through education, celebration, fellowship, or prayer. We can strive to learn more about the passion of Christ while developing our passion for Christ.

This Lenten Season, I pray that the Holy Spirit leads us all on a meaningful journey, and that we emerge from the wilderness with renewed faith, a clear sense of purpose, and a loving commitment to our church and all within it.

In Christ,
Gary Bague