Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

Dear Asbury Family,

Yesterday (March 2) we began the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday. Thank you to those of you who joined us for worship last night, either in person or online. I trust you found the service to be both inspiring and meaningful. I also want to express my gratitude and appreciation to those of you who joined us for our first Lenten Gathering in the Fellowship Hall (particularly to John Berry who gave the message).

We’re officially in the season of Lent, the forty-day period (excluding Sundays) leading into Easter. The forty days of Lent are meant to correspond to the forty days Jesus spent being tempted by Satan in the desert. (See, for example, Matthew 4:1-11). Lent is a season of introspection and self-examination. It’s a time for us to come to terms with the sin in our lives, repent (i.e., turn away from) that sin, and cling to God’s promise of forgiveness and new life. 

 As you probably know, Christians are encouraged to fast during Lent, which reminds us of the ministry of Jesus, who “emptied” himself to be with us (Philippians 2:5-11). Nowadays most people fast from things like meat, chocolate, coffee, soda, and caffeinated beverages. (I had a friend one year who fasted from sleeping in a bed and opted instead to sleep on the floor in his bedroom.) While these practices are certainly commendable, I came across a list of fasting suggestions from Pope Francis that I wanted to share with you.

 •             Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

•             Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. 

•             Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

•             Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

•             Fast from worries and have trust in God.

•             Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. 

•             Fast from pressures and be prayerful.

•             Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.

•             Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. 

•             Fast from grudges and be reconciled. 

•             Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.  

 Whatever your spiritual practices happen to be this season, I hope you will see Lent as a time to deepen and strengthen our connection with God. I also hope you’ll make worship a priority during this season. 

Speaking of worship, please make every effort to attend this Sunday (March 6). We begin a new series titled “Including the Excluded,” where we’ll be exploring Jesus’ ministry of inclusion Gospel of Luke. I also encourage you to read Luke over the next week. We’ll be unpacking this Gospel each Sunday in worship.

 Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you this Sunday!

 Blessings,

Chris