Historically the season of Lent is a season of repentance and mourning. In more liturgical churches, all the color is removed from the sanctuary, sometimes the lights are dimmed, and often the songs are somber. The entire effect is designed to invite the people of God to long for the Redeemer. Not long for Him to come (for Jesus did already!). Rather, we are invited in this season leading up to Resurrection Sunday to long for the Redeemer to have more our our lives, more of our hearts, more of our moments each and every day. Like Paul, we are to see life as a new opportunity to experience Christ and death as the greatest gain possible for then we will be with our LORD unhindered by sin forever (Phil. 1:21). But today we press on. Today we fight the fight of faith with fresh vigor. Let us press on pursuing Christ and throwing off the sin that so easily entangles (Heb. 12:1-3). Long for Him. Long for Jesus. Long for God. God loves to give good gifts to His children.

Items to note:

Vision Team, March 10: The 14-member vision team will meet for 4 hours Saturday morning. We are at the two-thirds point in our long-range planning discussion. It’s been heavy work. Please pray for clarity and unity in these final months. In April, we will provide an informational meeting on our progress.

Ministry Community, March 12: The leaders of CC will have their monthly meeting this Monday at 7PM at the church office.

Updated Reading Plan: Due to some variation in my preaching schedule, the reading plans are now a bit off. Please use this updated schedule up until Easter. Thank you. Sorry for the confusion this week.

March 11-17: God’s Perfect Justice – Exodus 33:12-34:9; Isaiah 5; 1 John 3-4; Revelation 19

March 18-24: The God of Judgment – Genesis 19; Isaiah 1:1-19; Ezekiel 16:43-63; Psalm 38; 2 Peter 1-3

March 25-March 31: God Demands the Son – Genesis 22; John 3:10-21;  Mark 10:32-45; Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Cor. 5:11-21