Dear Hope Members and Friends,
Today is Tuesday, February 16, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, the traditional day of great festing before the Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday. We should not, however, in anyway regard the season of Lent as a downer for it prepares for the greatest feast in God's promise of resurrection.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the forty days of Lent; a time when we can enter into a period of prayer, preparation and thanksgiving in anticipation of the Easter celebration. The symbolism of "forty " has many roots; the flood, forty years of wilderness wanderings and the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness prior to beginning his ministry in Galilee.
We missed worship a few times this winter due to weather and it was a blessing to be together again this past Sunday. Tomorrow evening gives us an opportunity to come together mid week for worship.
Worship will be held, Wednesday, February 17 at 7: 30 PM (the time in the bulletin this past Sunday was incorrect.) Berwyn Presbyterian Church will be joining us for this worship service. Please plan to be present if you can. The meditation will focus on the Gospel passage, Matthew 6: 1-6 and 16-21. The other scriptures for Ash Wednesday are Isaiah 58: 1-12, Psalm 51, and 2 Corinthians 5: 20-6:10.
Here is a prayer to mark the beginning of these forty days from the Book of Common Worship;
Gracious God, out of love and mercy, you breathed into dust the breath of life, creating us to serve you and our neighbors. Call forth our prayers and acts of tenderness. Strengthen us to remember that you are God and we are mortals, made in your image, and all that you made was called "good." Help us to reach out to receive you as you stand ever ready to reach for us. Give us confidence and the assurance of your mercy in Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
May you know all the blessings God has for you this day, and I hope to see you Wednesday evening.
Pastor Dottie