Our Lenten Adventure Together

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:24-25
 
“Good works certainly and without a doubt follow true faith – if it is not a dead, but a living faith – just as fruit grows on a good tree [Matthew 7:17].”
-Formula of Concord IV 6 (Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions)
 
The Season of Lent is a time of faith renewal.  We hear folks talk about “giving something up” for Lent.  Actually, it is more like reallocating  our gifts of time, talent, and treasure in service of the Lord. 
Serving and following Christ is an adventure, one on which we embark without even leaving our hometown area — although sometimes literal travel is part of it.  It’s also a journey on which we are accompanied by our Christian brothers and sisters.  Our Lenten Program, 30-Day Church Challenge, invites us into intentional reflection on and strengthening of our church community within the fellowship of small groups.  In addition to the small groups of our Sunday School classes, two evening meetings are also available.  Group leaders are also willing to meet with folks at other times and places for discussion and prayer.  Below is a prayer by the “Adventurer” Sir Francis Drake.  May these inspiring words embolden us on our Lenten Journey this year.   

Prayer for Spiritual Revival
Disturb us, Lord, when
we are too well pleased with ourselves,
when our dreams have come true
because we have dreamed too little,
when we arrived safely
because we sailed too close to the shore.
 
Disturb us, Lord, when
with the abundance of the things we possess
we have lost our thirst
for the waters of life;
having fallen in love with life,
we have ceased to dream of eternity
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision
of the new Heaven to dim.
 
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
to venture on wider seas
where storms will show your mastery;
where losing sight of land,
we shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back
the horizons of our hopes;
and to push into the future
in strength, courage, hope, and love.
 
Sir Francis Drake, English Sea Captain (1540-1596)
 
Read more in our 2015 Lenten Newsletter