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P.O. Box: 3, |
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A Lenten Pastoral Letter… The English word “Lent”
means “Spring,” but this does not express the significance of the six-week
period of spiritual discipline before Easter as conveyed by the 40 days of
the Greek tessaracoste or the Latin qaudragesima. Its
origin probably lies in the formal and final period of preparation of
candidates for baptism at Easter, with which those undergoing penance rapidly
became associated. With the atrophy of
both of these it became transformed into a period of general devotional
preparation for Easter for all. Baptism preparation on
one hand and penance on the other - does our modern day Lenten observation
reflect these two ancient pillars of the season? To some extent we have retained the flavor
of baptismal preparation with the observance of the Easter Vigil – the solemn
divine service held on the eve of Easter focusing on the story of salvation
culminating in the waters of baptism.
But do we retain the second pillar of penance in our Lutheran
tradition? There is no avoiding the
fact that we, as sinful people, are called upon by the Gospel to live a life
of repentance. Historically speaking,
by the time of the third century the church had created a system whereby
those guilty of very serious sins (such as apostasy, homicide, or adultery)
might present themselves to a bishop, make an avowal of their sins to him and
receive from him counsel and accept the discipline of penance which lasted
for a long time, sometimes for life.
The last period of penance took place during Lent and in the Roman
rite that season was marked by the need to prepare penitents for the
reconciliation which took place on Maundy Thursday with the reception of the
Sacrament of the Altar. Penance, as it
is expressed in the Roman Catholic Church today, doesn’t really take its true
form or shape until the 7th century in Now all of this is very
interesting, but what does it have to do with us in our Lutheran tradition?
As we approach this Lenten season I would like for you to consider your
relationships: with God, with each
other, and with the world. Are you
truly living a reconciled life? Have
you wrestled with your sinful nature, identified your failings and
short-comings, and sought out forgiveness?
Have you gone to the brother or sister you have hurt with your words
and deeds (or lack of words and deeds) and sought reconciliation? Or are you simply fooling yourself with the
mantra: “I have done nothing wrong…I
am completely right in this matter!”
Jesus once said of such an attitude:
“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you
will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). During this season of Lent
I challenge you to focus on the plank/log that is in your own eye. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and then
throughout the weekend worship services of St. James we will focus on the 4
G’s of Conflict Reconciliation:
Glorify God, Get the Log out of Your Own Eye, Gently Restore, and Go
and Be Reconciled. Sunday morning
Bible Study (which meets at In His Peace, Rev. Jeffrey E. Skopak Midweek Lenten Series and Soup Suppers… This year our Deacons
will guide our way through the Midweek Lenten services on Wednesdays at February 13 “The Promise
of Comfort” – Matthew 5:4 February 20 “The Promise
of Inheritance” – Matthew 5:5 February 27 “The Promise
of Righteousness” – Matthew 5:6 March 5 “The Promise of
Mercy” – Matthew 5:7 March 12 “The Promise of
Seeing God” – Matthew 5:8 The Holy Week Schedule… March
19, March
20, March
21, March
21, March
22, March
23 (see below) Easter Festival
Worship |
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