Dear Partners on the Journey,

There probably isn’t a more powerful season in the church year than Lent. Advent’s  preparations are nice, and they have dovetailed so well into the secular preparation for Christmas that we kind of lose where one leaves off and the other begins. Lent is different though. There’s no real house  decorating. No gift buying. No cards to write and send by the right time. Lent kind of comes upon us like an extra blanket spread over the bed to ward off the evening chill.

Lent was once a time to give up things. I used to joke that I’d give up “rock climbing and french-fried watermelon.” Easy. How about giving up the cell phone? How about the internet? How about television, except for the news? We could do that. Do you see the impact it could have on your days?

In the past we have encouraged you not to let something go, but to take on something new.  Volunteer for the Food Bank and Medical Loan Chest. Take part in the Community Garden. Promise to lead a small group for two months. Put together a children’s youth group for kids 3rd – 5th grade. Sing in the 11:00 service choir; or in the Praise Team at 9:00.

What is important whether you are “giving up or taking on” is that you remember to keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing, we learned during the season of Epiphany is that Jesus of Nazareth— the Messiah — has power over life, nature, sickness and disease, and the universe. Our life together as New Spirit Lutheran Church is not because of Brother Martin Luther. It’s not. Our life together as New Spirit Lutheran Church is not because of the ELCA, or the Grand Canyon Synod. It’s not. Our life together as New Spirit Lutheran Church is not because our friends are here and I’ve been a member here a long time. It’s not. Our life together as New Spirit Lutheran Church is because of Jesus of Nazareth, born to Mary, who taught the ways of heaven and the kingdom of God, who welcomed sinners without regard of their brokenness, and showed them mercy, so they would become wholly whole.

So, I want to remind you that we are here to keep the main thing, the main thing. We are here to learn. That means we will need to unpack the variety of baggage we carry that contains what we call “our faith.” My guess is that Jesus may not recognize what you have stored up to so much faith. We are here to worship. That means that God is “worth” more to us than sleeping in on Sunday mornings, or relaxing with the Sunday paper and a cup of coffee. We are here to give thanks to God because we have lived through all of the stuff that is in the papers, by the grace of God. We are here to serve. None of us gets to be the customer, bidding the waitress or waiter to come re-fill your coffee. We are here to serve not our own wants, or even our own members. Jesus has told us as disciples of his we are to serve the world, our neighbors, and yes, even our boss. And the best part of serving is that each one of you have already been “hard-wired” with the capability to serve in very specific ways with ease, and I might say, some joy. We are to keep the main thing, the main thing. It’s all about Jesus. Simply put, that’s it.

And so I thank you for your willingness to share in this journey of faith. I thank you for your willingness to give sacrificially to ensure Christ’s ministry is carried out not only here but across this little blue planet. It is so sad to hear of church members withholding the very things that promote Jesus and his mission, because they seem to have forgotten about the main thing. 

We still have a lot to learn. I have a lot to learn. And so I thank you for your patience as I continue to learn to show and share the grace of God “without counting the cost.” That’s a main thing issue. So, as we follow this journey from Ashes to Easter I thank you for your being the presence of God to me in this place. May your days be gifts unwrapped, each to show the grace of God, the mercy of God, and the love of Jesus. That’s what happens when you keep the main thing, the main thing. 

Blessed Lenten journey …