LOVE IS IN THE AIR

​In case all the heart shaped balloons, explosion of red flowers and overflowing candy aisle at the local grocery store didn’t tip you off, that annual celebration of romantic love, Valentine’s Day, is right around the corner. Also right around the corner is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent, also a celebration of love but in a different sense. During Lent, we prepare our hearts to receive the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life that comes with the death and resurrection of Jesus and the celebration of Easter. Lent is typically thought of as a season of contemplation and introspection and of repentance and turning back to God. In that sense, Lent is a celebration of God’s love for us as we open our hearts to receive the gifts of God’s love on Easter.
Ash Wednesday is on February 22 this year. Ashes-to-go will be distributed in the parking lot from 7-9 AM and we will worship together later that day at 7 PM. During Lent, we will have contemplative worship midweek on Tuesdays at 6 PM in addition to Sunday morning worship at 9:30 AM. Reserve Saturdays, March 18 and March 25 for a 2-session Lenten workshop on living in the present while planning for the end. Chaplain Eric Nefstead from Holy Family and I will lead a seminar for members of Holy Family and CLC on reflecting on one’s life and preparing for one’s death including filling out paperwork that specify end of life wishes. Watch the weekly emails and next month’s newsletter for more details.
I want to use the last part of my article this month to thank Henry Lowman for his leadership as council president. These last three years have presented the leadership team of CLC and especially our council president with unprecedented challenges including responding to the pandemic and to the financial challenges that resulted due to loss of rental income. Henry used his experience in business and also in science to help us navigate these difficult waters. And not only did we survive, but under his leadership we were able to renovate the West Wing and make necessary repairs to the church and undertake the Pathfinder process. Henry, your leadership and wisdom will be greatly missed on council; don’t be surprised if we call you from time to time for advice, but hopefully now you’ll have more time  to actually enjoy worship in peace.
Blessing, Pastor Sue