By the time you receive this month's Visitor, we will be deep into our observation of Lent.  Despite what we see when we look outside, it's the season for doing spiritual spring-time work, especially the work of preparing the soil of our souls to receive the seed of Easter life.  So we use the Lenten disciplines to prune and rake, to get rid of the stuff that gets in the way of growth.  Then we dig up the soil and break up the clumps to make a proper seedbed.  Because this is the time when the days "lengthen", the basic meaning of "Lent", the beginning of the springtime of our souls.

The Lectionary offers us powerful Gospel stories to ponder.  Luke 13:1-9 is as current as the tragedy reported on tonight's news.  Luke 15:11-32 is a parable that warms the heart of every sinner.  John 12:1-8 offers an example of a deep love.  These are the texts that prepare us for Palm Sunday, March 28, and the Holy Week that follows.  Please make them essential parts of your Lenten journey with Christ to the cross.

To help us make the journey together, I invite you also to the series of Lenten Wednesday Devotional Services.  At 7:30, we will meet to read and ponder these scriptures, pray together, and to share a simple Sacrament of Holy Communion.  The series begins on February 24, when we will ponder Luke 13:31-35, and ends on March 24.

Pastor Dan