Dear First Pres,
Lent has begun. It started with a wonderful Ash Wednesday service last night. When we left with ashes on our foreheads, we were reminded that all our possessions, all of our projects, all the world's nations, all the accolades we earn, even our lives do not last forever. God told Adam, and the same is true for us, "for dust you are and to dust you will return" (Genesis3:19). We tend to want to avoid talking about death. When we're young, we think we'll live forever. When we're old, we wish we were younger. And we tend to idolize those things that will eventually perish - the treasures that we store up on earth (Matt. 6:19). It's good, though, to be reminded that those things won't last forever. It helps to loosen our grip on our idols and focus our worship on the Everlasting God. And, it reminds us of what we truly believe. Without death, there is no resurrection. It's only in dying, Beloved, that we live in Christ.
My prayer for us during Lent is from Psalm 139 - that God will search us, and know our hearts. That He will test us and know our anxious hearts. That He will reveal any offensive way in us, and lead us in the way everlasting.
This Sunday we're starting a new sermon series called The Great Vision: Understanding Christ's Vision for His Church. It will be our Lenten sermon series that will take us right into our Easter celebration on March 27. Rev. Ken Priddy is coming to teach us how to be a church vitalized in the mission of Jesus. He will be preaching on Feb. 28, but to get the most out of what he has to offer our church you need to attend the weekend workshop. The first session starts on Friday night, Feb. 26, at 6:30. The second session will be on Saturday morning, from 8:30 - 12. Even if you can't attend the whole of both sessions, I encourage you to sign up and attend what you can.
I believe this special weekend holds the potential of catalyzing a whole new level of vitality in our church and in your relationship with Christ. The cost of the seminar is $20, but the Session has chosen to subsidize half the cost to encourage more of our people to come. So, for $10, you can experience an uplifting, inspiring, thought-provoking, and challenging weekend workshop (and the workbook, of course).
Please don't think "I'm too old for that kind of thing." Or, "That's for people who are more involved." Or, "I'm too young." Or, "I already know that stuff." Or, "I don't do seminars." Instead, I invite you to think, "I wonder what God will have for me in this seminar" And, "I want to be right in the middle of what God is doing at FPC." And to pray, "God have Your way with FPC."
You can sign up and pay online, right now. Or you can sign up this Sunday after worship. If you're still not sure about coming to the Friday/Saturday seminar, please pray about it and ask God to show you what He would have you do.
All For His Glory,
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