Christ Community Lutheran Church

       NEWSLETTER 

There is a wonderful movie out on video that is very relevant to the Lenten season entitled, “Chocolat”. The movie is a sometimes funny and sometimes serious look at what it means to be an outsider in a small community, all set against the backdrop of the church, and the season of Lent. Now I know that if I request anyone to watch this movie that they probably will not. Therefore, using “Lenten logic”, I think that I will forbid everyone from watching it, counting on human nature to win the day.

Anyhow, towards the end of the movie, after all the shenanigans have taken place, the town priest delivers his Easter Sunday sermon, he says: “I'm not sure what the theme of my homily today ought to be. Do I want to speak of the miracle of Our Lord's divine transformation? Not really, no. I don't want to talk about His divinity. I'd rather talk about His humanity. I mean, you know, how He lived His life, here on Earth. His kindness, His tolerance... Listen, here's what I think. I think that we can't go around measuring our goodness by what we don't do. By what we deny ourselves, what we resist, and who we exclude. I think we've got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create... and who we include.”  Herein lays my belief about Lent. Rather than giving something up for Lent in order to prove our piety and holiness, why don’t we measure our closeness to God by what we embrace, the causes that we take up, the people that we welcome into our church? This year the people of Haiti are on the top of the list for needing food, shelter, clothing, medical help, and above all, love.  

Throughout the Lenten season, our Mission Service Team will be doing children’s sermons on Haiti, and they will be taking a special “change for a change” offering each week to help with the relief effort in Haiti.

One of the many blessings of being part of the ELCA is the fact that, through our World Hunger and Disaster Relief appeal, we are already on the ground in Haiti, passing out food, clothes, health kits, water purifiers, and above all hope.

My wife and I were sitting in the sauna at the YMCA recently, where we overheard a conversation between two men. The older man mentioned the tragedy in Haiti, and the younger man replied, “To hell with them! Where were they when we needed help after hurricane Katrina? I say, let them take care of themselves.” My wife wisely shuttled me out of the room, however on the way out, I heard the elderly man quietly reply, “But they have nothing”. 

And it struck me; as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be Christ to those who have nothing. To be the hope that is promised in scripture, to be the love that Christ gave so freely to so many, as he fed the 5,000 and healed the sick and comforted the lonely, and accepted the poor and diseased, not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters.

It is so easy to become cynical in this world of corruption, hate, and violence.  Anyone can be a cynic. But to be the light of Christ to another through faith; to lift up that which has been torn down; to love the unlovable, to offer hope for a better day, that takes guts. I would be so bold as to suggest that the cure to our present malaise can only be found in loving service to others, not to earn God’s favor, but to do God’s Will. May our Lenten season be one of reflection & repentance, but also one of acceptance, inclusion and yes, even action, in the name of the one who gave His life for us. Amen.

Pastor Paul

P.S. If you still feel moved to “give up” something for Lent, try brussel sprouts or Lutefisk, I find them much easier to go without. 

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE

FEBRUARY 17^TH 6:30 p.m.

Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and it marks the beginning of Lent. According to scripture, ashes were used in ancient times to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes is the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. It marks the start of our forty day period of Lent(excluding Sundays) mirroring the separation of Jesus during his 40 days of temptation by Satan in the desert. At our service of worship on this evening, ashes will be imposed on the foreheads of the faithful in the shape of a cross, which the worshipper traditionally retains until the day is done. The minister says the following when applying the ashes: “Remember, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Participation in this part of the service is optional, as is the laying on of hands for healing.