St. Mark Lutheran Church

"Serving God and Community for 50 Years"

Thoughts from the Pastor
on our Lenten Journey


I made the confession at Evening Prayer that as of Ash Wednesday, I had not yet defined my Lenten discipline for this year.

I had a feeling about what it was, but just didn’t have it spelled out in my mind. I have since been able to define it, but it made me think.

It made me think about the whole practicing of selecting a discipline.

What happens if you don’t select one?

Nothing.

The ‘nothing’ means more than avoiding punishment. To be sure, I am not going to stand in the pulpit and call you out.

Nothing will happen.

But, the same holds true for your spiritual life, your relationship with God. Nothing.

The forty days will pass. You’ll get to Holy Week along with everyone else. But a window will have closed, and you won’t be ready. Nothing will have happened.

Lent is an opportunity. It is this time when we can be more intentional about tending our relationship with God. Sure, this should be part of our daily life, in June and September and November as much as February and March. But here are these days set aside specifically to practice our relationship with God.
If you don’t have anything yet, you could:

+Commit to setting aside a particular amount of time each day to prayer and reading scripture

+Make notes each day about where you saw God at work (which will be helpful when you come to church the following Sunday – you will then easily write an example of where you saw God at work and put it in the basket)

+Give something up. When you find yourself wanting that thing, use it as a cue to turn to God and pray.

+Read Three Cups of Tea (a couple of copies will be available in our library), or something else of your choice.

Whether you start on Ash Wednesday or in the midst of the second week of Lent doesn’t matter. It only matters that you join the journey.

The journey is really all about getting us ready for the journey of Holy Week. It gets our spirits primed, so that when Palm Sunday arrives we’re ready to enter into prayerful, mindful worship. Then on Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, and at the Vigil, our Spirit will be renewed in this profound way that really goes beyond words.

I want you to experience that. So get ready! Now!

Journeying with you, in Christ,

 

Pastor Julianne Smeck


February-2010   more...

Pastor Thoughts for Jnauary 2010   more...


January 2009   more...

February 2009   more...

Pastor's Thoughts March-2009   more...

April- 2009   more...


Thoughts May -2009   more...

June-2009   more...

  more...

Pastor's Thoughts - September 2009   more...

October-2009   more...

Pastoral Thoughts - November 2009   more...


2008


December 2008 - Pastors Thoughts
Pastor Julianne
Jan-05-2009
December 2008 - Pastors Thoughts   more...

Pastor's Thoughts - November 2008
Pastor Julianne
Dec-05-2008
November 2008 - Thoughts   more...

Pastors message September 2008
Pastor Julianne
Sep-26-2008
United in Action MOSES Faith and Democracy Public Rally   more...

Pastors Thoughts April 7 2008
Pastor Julianne
Apr-07-2008
Recognize your "heart blockage" – what is getting between you and experiencing God?   more...

Pastors Thoughts April 2008
Pastor Julianne
Apr-01-2008
Reflections on Easter Week:   more...

Pastors Thoughts March 2008
Pastor Julianne
Mar-20-2008
The Holiest of Days   more...

Pastors Thoughts - feb2008
Pastor Julianne
Feb-11-2008
Back to Basics (and Bring Your Bible) This will be our theme during Lent.   more...

Previous Years



Pastors thoughts Sept 2007
Pastor Julianne
Sep-30-2007
Pastors Thoughts Sept. 2007   more...

Pastors Thoughts from September 2007 newsletter
Pastor Julianne
Aug-31-2007
A lot has happened since the last newsletter. I will mention only two: VBS and Churchwide Assembly.   more...

Pastors-Thoughts-2-Dec2006
Pastor Julieanne
Dec-21-2006
On this Holy Night, as you remember the birth of Jesus   more...

Pastors Thoughts December 2006 - should we still keep Advent?
Pastor Julianne
Dec-06-2006
Should we still keep Advent?   more...

Pastors Message-May2006
Pastor Julianne
May-24-2006
Once I read about a place called “Remembering”.   more...

Pastor's Message - April 2006
Pastor Julianne
Apr-18-2006
Liturgy: Work of the People Easter Monday   more...

Pastors-Message-January 2006
Pastor Julianne
Jan-15-2006
Beginnings I didn’t stay up to welcome in 2006.   more...

Message from the Pastor...200 years of Ministry
Pastor Julianne
Oct-19-2005
200 years of Ministry...   more...

Message from the Pastor
Pastor Julianne
Apr-08-2005
It is Easter Monday.   more...

Message from the Pastor...Lenton Season....
Pastor Julianne
Mar-01-2005
So here is what I have experienced as we have gathered on Wednesday evenings to share a meal, shared in Evening Prayer, and answered A Call to Prayer.   more...

Message from the Pastor...Pondering the start of a new year...
Pastor Julianne
Jan-08-2005
Pondering the start of a new year…   more...

Message from the Pastor...Advent Gifts
Pastor Julianne
Dec-03-2004
Advent Gifts   more...



Progress