As we go to press with the March newsletter, Ash Wednesday and the liturgical season of Lent has begun.  As most of you know, Lent is a forty day spiritual journey of self reflection and self examination.  During this forty day walk with Jesus, through our scripture readings and worship services, we are daily reminded “who” we are, and “whose” we are!

The season of Lent confronts our spiritual shortcomings and calls us to repent of our failure to be the disciples christ and God call us to be.  While Lent is a time of intense reflection and inward repentance, it is also a time of hope, as we pray, work and serve others in Christ’s name.  In that vein, the season of Lent culminates on Maundy Thursday. 

For we Brethren, Maundy Thursday is the night we hold “Love Feast”.  Love Feast remains on of the most profound and powerful signs and symbols of our church’s worship live.  When Brethren come together for this annual meal and worship service during Holy Week, we are reminded of our relationship with God, Christ and all disciples around the world!

This year, Maundy Thursday falls on March 24^th.  As we gather in the fellowship hall that night, we will share a simple meal.  We will pray and read scriptures from the Gospels.  We will ponder the mystery and power of Christ’s act of washing his disciples feet, a sign and symbol of God cleansing and forgiving all who have faith and seek to follow Jesus.

I pray all who can will attend Love Feast this year.  If anyone would like to attend but needs a ride, please call Jessica in the office and we will work on getting you to and from church.

I look forward to seeing a faithful turnout this year for Love Feast on March 24^th.  More information can be found on the following pages of this newsletter.

Peace be with you all,

Pastor Jeff

Christmas is just around the corner.  As we move ever closer to the day of our Lord’s birth, let us strive to keep Holy our focus and remembrance of what Christmas Day is all about.  Christmas is more than a day of giving and receiving gifts from family and friends.

Christmas is certainly not all about Santa Claus and Christmas trees, parties and making good cheer.  Let us, being people of faith, remember that Christmas Day in the church is the feast of the incarnation, the night and day when the word became flesh and bone.  The day God came down and joined our common lot.

In the Gospel of Luke, Luke begins Jesus’ birth narrative not with accounts of God using rich, powerful people in places of power and influence to usher in the coming of messiah.  Rather, God begins the birth story of Jesus by using old people at a temple, Zechariah and Elizabeth.  God chose a peasant couple named Joseph and Mary to be the earth bound vessels through which Messiah would come into the world.  God even used poor shepherds out in the fields to announce and witness Emmanuel being born!

God used the opposite of worldly models of power to show the world and humanity a power and grace almost beyond our comprehension!  On that special night, long ago in ancient Judea, the literal King of Kings, God’s own son, came to earth as a poor peasant.  He was born homeless, in filthy conditions.  Truly he was born in the most vulnerable and insecure of circumstances.

By any earthly standard, God’s son should have been born in or near King Herod’s palace on the Temple Mount.  Yet God did just the opposite.  God in this singular act of supreme love, sends Emmanuel into the world to truly model God’s love and mercy, shown to common people.

Christ was born into a sin darkened world of war, violence, injustice and spiritual denial.  Conversely in our postmodern world wracked with war, economic and political dysfunction and corruption, Emmanuel, Jesus, is still offering us hope, light and truth!  I for one need to believe in the beacon of light and hope that Jesus offers humanity.  In these critical times, we can forget that by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, Emmanuel is ever near.  All we need do to feel his love is to reach out to him through prayer and the study of God’s word, the Bible.

In this season of light, love and truth, I encourage you all to leave your home Bible open to St. Luke, Chapter 2:1-20.  In the days leading up to Christmas, on occasion stop and read the birth narrative of Jesus.  In this reading you will discover a peace, love and gentle power emanating from the Bible.  A love fully revealed to the world, in the birth of the baby Jesus.

Brothers and Sisters, Emmanuel is near.  Soon Christmas will be here.  Keep the light of faith burning in your hearts and lives.  In the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, peace be with you all, and Merry Christmas!

Amen, amen, amen…

Pastor Jeff

Pastor’s Notes…

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

As we send out this October / November Newsletter, I have been with you as your Interim Pastor almost a month.  The welcome and support I have received has been awesome!  Thankfulness filled my heart as I began to think about this article, and the themes of Thanksgiving and gratitude seem only natural as I looked at the calendar of events and church meetings scheduled for November.

In November we will host the OV Holiday Craft Bazaar (more details in the coming pages!) and we will also have our annual Fall General Assembly and Potluck on November 15.  At this meeting, the church’s major business, financial and ministry issues for the concluding and upcoming year will be discussed and faithfully discerned.

Then, we will conclude November by preparing and distributing Thanksgiving Baskets to community members in need.  Many hands and hearts will be needed to purchase, prepare and deliver these baskets to our neighbors in the community.  Please see Jessica’s article on Page 3 which outlines how you can help support this major end of the year mission-outreach!

November and the season of Thanksgiving are just around the corner.  Let us, as a community and family of faith, all pledge to roll up our sleeves and help out where needed to serve Christ and our Parish in the month and days that lie ahead.  God calls us to put our Thanksgiving faith into action.  The season of Thanksgiving is here.  We thank God for the gifts he has given us in the year now concluding.  In faith, let us in return work to serve God and the church in November as sign and symbol of our gratitude and thankfulness to God.

Peace be with you all,

Pastor Jeff