Bethany Reformed Church

A Note from the Pastor

February 18, 2010

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last night was our Ash Wednesday Service. Ash Wednesday is the day that marks the beginning of the forty-day Lenten journey towards Easter (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) in imitation of Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness following his baptism (Matthew 4:1-11). The tradition of the imposition of ashes on the foreheads of worshipers is a sign of mortality and penitence. This practice dates back to at least the tenth century. In the 10th century, the tradition began of creating the ashes by burning the branches used on Palm Sunday.

Every Lenten journey is different – different because we are different people. We are not the same people we were last year at this time. This year an opportunity was given to voice when and how Bethany was going to journey through this significant season. We decided that our Lenten focus will be on Sundays following Coffee Hour. We will be using the Book of Jonah as our starting point of how we are not so different than the ancient ones. If you were at the Ash Wednesday Service you had a foretaste! One of the goals of this series is a serious examination of our individual lives and our corporate life as a church founded on Christ’s mission to the world. There is room at the study table for all; we are on the journey together.

Passion Week (Palm Sunday through Easter) will be celebrated with many opportunities to worship: Maundy Thursday at 7:00 p.m. (Institution of Lord’s Supper), on Good Friday there is an ecumenical service at 12:00 (more information to follow) and Good Friday Service at Bethany at 7:00 p.m. and Easter - early service at 7:00 am followed by a potluck breakfast and 10:00 a.m. Worship. I’ll be writing more about Passion Week next month. Right now, our focus is on our spiritual growth during Lent.

My Lenten wish for you is that you have a heartfelt struggle; not one filled with guilt or shame (although a little guilt helps keep us on the right path!) but one of encouragement to look at our daily routines and ways ‘we have always done things.’ God is calling. How will you respond?

Please remember to pick up your daily Lenten devotional booklets in the Narthex.

Pastor Peggy