A Note from
Pastor Rod

February 2012

Lent 2012:  “For This Reason…..I Came”  - A time for Spiritual Renewal. 

As we approach this new Lenten season of 2012 it will be good for us to seek spiritual renewal in God’s word, prayer and our focus on our Lord Jesus Christ.  The 40 days of Lent are designed (although the Scriptures do not mention Lent, nor is it commanded in Scripture) to help us in a Holy walk with our Lord of repentance and renewal.  It is a time of self-examination and our need to confess our sin and to receive total and complete forgiveness by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the time of the Reformation, some Christians wanted to eliminate Lent since the Scripture didn’t command it.  Luther urged that it be kept, for he saw Lent as an opportunity for the strengthening of faith.  “Lent, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week shall be retained, not to force anyone to fast (to go without food), but to preserve the Passion history and the Gospels appointed for that season (Luther’s Works 53:90).  Here Luther tells us that Lent should be preserved, in part, because it reminded Christians of the Passion (Suffering and Death) of Jesus and encouraged them to meditate upon it.  However, no one should be forced to participate.  It should be voluntary.

So our approach towards Lent is one of personal discipline that brings the opportunity of spiritual renewal and in so doing a deepening of faith in Christ Jesus. 

It is our prayer that this Lenten season brings that to us all.

God bless you,
Pastor Rod