An Invitation from Pastor Cheri: Let's Practice Following Jesus

Dear Village friends,

Last night we marked Ash Wednesday with a simple service of prayer. About twenty of us gathered in our coffee house worship space. I invited us to participated in an ancient Christian practice: confession. Of course, God already knows our hearts. God knows what we've said and done, what we've failed to say and do. But we also know a sense of freedom comes, when we say our private confession to God, when we gather in community with other Jesus-followers, and remember that God always forgives us and gives us a second chance. That second chance is grace. No matter what we do, or fail to do, God forgives us. So last night, we wrote our confessions on slips of paper, and put them in a metal can. We stepped outside and set the paper and fire, turned them to ashes. Later in the service, we used these ashes to make the sign of the cross on our foreheads.

We also talked about "practices" that followers of Jesus can take on during this season called Lent -- the 40 days (excluding Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Some of us will "fast" which means we will "give up" something up for Lent. We may give up food one day a week, or one meal a week, or we may give up dessert, or watching TV, or chatting on Facebook. The idea of fasting is this: whenever we reach for that "thing" and long for it, or hunger for it, we will turn our attention toward God. The thing we give up serves as a reminder that during this season, we have chosen to dig deeper spiritually and listen more closely to God.

Some of us choose the "practice" during Lent of adding something, such as a daily prayer routine. One person at last night's service said he writes a note to someone he cares about every day during Lent as a way of nurtuting important relationships. I invited folks to share what practices they want to commit to during Lent. I was amazed at the openness with which people shared. One person committed to sending a care package to soldiers in Iraq every day for the 40 days of Lent. Others committed to pray every day. I committed to write a blog each week here, and I invite you to "sign in" to the blog below so that you can comment each week. Let's have a conversation during Lent, shall we?

In our community of The Village, our stated vision is: Follow Jesus, and Change the World! The season of Lent has always been a time when followers of Jesus make choices to take our walk with Jesus to the next level. I for one, have committed to take a prayer walk each day during the 40 days of Lent, and simply listen and watch for whatever God might say to me or show me. How about you? How are you going to follow Jesus during these next 40 days?

Peace,

Pastor Cheri