Pastor's Message

February 2005

Lenten Message

Lent begins early this year. Ash Wednesday is on February 9th. As usual we will observe Lent at St. Paul's UCC with our mid-week Lenten meals and Lenten services, but we hope that every member will use this Lenten Season as a time of renewal.

For centuries, Lent has been considered a time of renewal. But what does that mean? What should we do to “renew our faith?” I thought I would see how the word “renew” is defined, so I checked a web site called “Dictionaries.com” and found the following:
re·new  v. tr. To take up again; resume: renew an old friendship To repeat so as to reaffirm: renew a promise. To arrange for the extension of: renew a contract; renew a magazine subscription. To make new or as if new again; restore: renewed the antique chair.
Each one of these definitions can apply to the renewal of our faith as we might live it out during the season of Lent, depending on where we are on our faith journey as we enter Lent.

For some who might have drifted away from involvement in the church, we would hope that the season of Lent is a time to renew an old friendship with the fellowship of believers. If you have not been in worship at St. Paul's UCC for some time, whatever the reason, come and join us for our Wednesday evening services. It is a good time to renew old friendships with other members, and a good time to renew your friendship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

For others, who might already be involved in the life of St. Paul's UCC, Lent can be a time to affirm our faith by making a special effort to worship on Wednesday evenings. Our faith may not necessarily become stronger by worshiping twice every week, but such expressions of worship and devotion are in themselves a renewal, an affirmation, of the promises we have made to God.

We can renew our faith during Lent by affirming our intention to remain in the faith and fellowship of our church. Many of us will renew magazine subscriptions each year, or even contracts such as our telephone or appliance maintenance contracts. In the same way we should give some thought to “renewing” our participation in our church. Some churches have actually used “membership cards” issued annually to those who intend to continue their memberships. Although we do not do this at St. Paul's Church, we hope all members will use the Lenten Season as an opportunity to commit to continuing their membership and their active involvement in our congregation.

For some of us, our faith may be more like an old habit, familiar, comfortable, almost like an old chair. But even old chairs need to be refinished and reupholstered from time to time to preserve their usefulness and maintain their quality. A little extra polishing, refinishing and renewing in our faith are sometimes necessary to preserve its usefulness and quality. What parts of your faith need to be polished? Your Bible knowledge? Your prayer life? Use this Lent as a time to make your faith new again.

Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary gives one more definition: “To give new spiritual strength; to make better in spirit.” Although the above definitions can all apply to our faith, this is the form of renewal that we all seek during the Season of Lent. This is why we offer special services, so that all members have the opportunity to spend extra time on spiritual growth. Many members use this opportunity for growth – last year we had an average of over 100 at our mid-week services. If you didn’t attend last year, plan to come this year. And whether you come or not, do use the Season of Lent as a time to RENEW your faith.