Weekly Update// Pastor Chris

  Dear Asbury Family, 

Until she retired in 2011, Marlene Kropf was Associate Professor in Spiritual Formation and Worship at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. She once wrote the following about Lent (the 40-day season that leads us into Easter): 

In the daily round of life, dust and cobwebs accumulate in our souls. The hidden corners of our hearts become encrusted with grime or filled with forgotten debris. During the weeks of Lent, God's Spirit is given opportunity to clear away the clutter, sweep away the dust and wash us clean. We are invited to prepare ourselves—heart, soul, mind, and body—for the new life of Easter.While our default as humans is to rush the glory of Easter, Lent invites us to intentionally slow down, turn from sins and bad habits to which we’ve grown accustomed, and reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus. Additionally, Lent creates space for us to step into the liberating grace of God that Easter makes possible. I pray that this Lenten season has been meaningful and continues to shape you in profound ways.

Keep in mind that our Lenten Gatherings will continue to happen each Wednesday at noontime in the Fellowship Hall. In these gatherings, we are looking at the seven last words of Jesus from the cross. I want to thank Jack Frye, John Berry, and Patti Gich for the messages they have delivered, Tom Moore for his organizational work, and the staff and volunteers who support these gatherings in a variety of ways. 

This Sunday, we continue in our sermon series titled “24 Hours That Changed the World” (based on a book of the same name by Pastor Adam Hamilton) in which we are looking at the last 24 hours of Jesus’ earthly life. Having looked at what happened with Jesus on Holy Thursday when he gathered with the disciples in the Upper Room and then went to the Garden of Gethsemane, we now come to the events of early morning on Good Friday when following his arrest, Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council). The title of the sermon is “Condemned by the Righteous.” Ironically, Jesus was condemned by the very people who represented God at the time. How on earth did this happen? We’ll do our best to answer this question on Sunday. I hope to see you in person or online at our 9:30am Contemporary/Celebration Service in the Fellowship Hall or our 11am Traditional Service in the Sanctuary.

 Enjoy the rest of your week!

Blessings,

Chris