Pastor's Note

Now I’m sure many of you came from the era when school was all about the 3 R’s-Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic, long before the days of computers and all that they could do to help us learn.

But now, as we have begun again our season of Lent, I would like to encourage you to be about the 5 R’s-Repent, Return, Restore, Renew, and Remember as means to walk through this season.  Let me explain. . .

Let us first consider repentance. It is how we begin our journey through these next weeks of this Lenten season. Repentance isn’t just about saying you’re sorry, but rather, it’s about turning around-a change of heart and mind whereby we turn back to God. Take time this week to turn away from sin and turn toward the God who is ready to forgive us. Determine what sins are keeping you from a closer relationship with God and ask Him to forgive you.

Then, as we move into Week 2, we return. The Christian journey can be quite an adventure, with its ups and downs and unexpected turns. During Lent, we are asked to return to the path of following Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. Wherever we may wander, it is never too far to once again return to God.

During the 3^rd week of Lent, we restore. In order to restore something, we first must realize that it is broken. Through sin, our relationship with God has been broken. But God has done something amazing: “The Word (Christ) has become flesh and blood.” Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected so that we might have our relationship with God restored for all time if we accept this gracious gift of restoration.

In week 4, we renew. We renew our faith as we daily enter into time of spiritual disciplines-reading the Bible, prayer, or fasting –so that we can be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”.  Your faith will be renewed as you are reminded of who you are and whose you are-a child of your Heavenly Father

And finally, in week 5, we remember.  We are not just ordinary people.  We are sons and daughters of a living God, an heir of God’s kingdom, and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ.  You are no longer a sinner, but a new creation, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, set apart as a part of the body of Christ.

We may not all be able to practice these disciplines week by week, but I ask you to consider each of them throughout our Lenten journey, in preparation for a joyous Easter.

                                                                                                                                                              God Bless You

                                                                                                                                                              Pastor Randy