Getting Lost

Dear Faith Des Peres Community,

Last Wednesday, 40 of us gathered for Ash Wednesday worship and received the mark of ashes on our foreheads.  Never before in my 13 years as pastor of Faith Des Peres have we had 40 people at an Ash Wednesday service.  That's about 1/3 of our community.  Do you think churches of 1500 get 500 people to an Ash Wednesday service?  I don't.  My hope is that your attendance on Ash Wednesday not only symbolizes your commitment to the church, but more importantly symbolizes your commitment to grow closer to God during this season of Lent.  

This Sunday our journey to Jerusalem begins.  This year our theme is "Journey Inward/Journey Forward".  We will examine those areas of our lives that keep us separate from God, and we will take part in spiritual practices that help us grow closer to God.  This is the inward part of our journey.  

The forward part of the journey will turn our attention to others.  The idea is that as we grow closer to God, we will become better followers of Jesus Christ . . .which means serving others and their needs just as Christ did.  During Lent you'll have an opportunity to journey forward in service on February 22 when we make blankets for soldiers, on March 9 at Food Outreach, and at the Adult Discussion Group on February 17 and 24 and March 3 and 10 as we discuss racism, income inequality, and hunger.  And last, but certainly not least,  "Go! Sunday" is April 7.  We will go into the community and take part in service projects around the city.

This week we will focus on the spiritual practice of getting lost.  That may sound like a strange spiritual practice to you, but anything can be a spiritual practice if we allow it to show us what is real, who we really are, and how near God can be when we've lost our way.  In preparation for Sunday, I encourage you to read this Sunday's Gospel reading from Luke 4 about Jesus being in the wilderness for 40 days and nights.  Nothing says lost like being in a wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights.

And finally, if you have not been to church in a while, do not come weekly, or have fallen out of the habit of coming, I encourage you to adopt the spiritual practice of attending church weekly during Lent.  My hope and prayer is that you will grow closer to God at Faith Des Peres and find sustenance for your journey here.

Blessings upon you all, and I hope and pray that I will see you Sunday.

Pastor Annie

PS: Mark these Sundays on your calendar!  February 24 we will have special music by a classical guitarist; March 17 the choir will present a Lent "lessons and carols" type service; March 24 is Palm Sunday-my favorite Sunday of the year and the most important Sunday-don't miss it!, and Easter on March 31.