What Lent Means To Me - 4/1/2012

This is the fifth in a series that will be included in the Sunday Bulletin each week during Lent.

by Cindy Pillow

There were tables in the shape of 3 large crosses, hot cross buns and hot tea. You must behave yourself. You are eating with at least 50 elderly women. There is a Sacrificial Breakfast at church. What fun??? Why call it “Good Friday”, Jesus DIED today. A program that is especially boring for children. Oh no, those are not
raisins in the hot cross buns, it’s that nasty candied fruit, I wonder if I can hide it under my plate?

Dying eggs, new shoes and what’s for Easter dinner? Oh, my it’s Lent, “What should I give up?” Maybe it should be soda, ice cream or CHOCOLATE? Where can I get Easter crosses for the Easter Baskets? No candy for the child with braces. While in a hurry to prepare for Easter the season of Lent is delegated to a mild inconvenience of remembering to deny myself a pleasure, but God’s love is never denied to us.

Now, repentance, self denial and gratitude from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. We should not be giving up but giving more. I should be giving my time for a letter of thanks or praise of a job well done. Giving my abilities to listen, lead or create. What more can I give when Jesus gave it all?

What Lent Means To Me - 3/18/2012

This is the fourth in a series that will be included in the Sunday Bulletin each week during Lent.

by Daron Smith

When I was asked to share what Lent means to me the first thing that popped into my head was the anticipation of Easter and a really great family dinner with presents and candy. Ok, that was what the kid in me thinks about but now that I'm a little older that has changed a bit. Don't get me wrong; who can resist those Reese's Peanut Butter eggs?! Family memories of Easter time are something I will always cherish and hold close, but now during Lent I reflect on my spiritual development and where my life is going. As Christians we focus on the resurrection and new beginnings so that is what I think about. How can I change and grow and become a better Christian? It's not always an easy thing to do so I'm more intentional about it during the Lenten season and along the way I still manage to sneak a peanut butter egg here and there.

What Lent Means To Me - 3/11/2012

This is the third in a series that will be included in the Sunday Bulletin each week during Lent.

by Lynne Keay

I was raised in a small town southeast of here. There were four churches and Lent was observed by all. There was a community Ash Wednesday service but I don't remember any ashes. Then there was Palm Sunday but I don't remember any palms. We had service every evening of Holy Week. The egg hunt was on Saturday and then Easter Sunrise Service that moved from church to church(PJs and raincoat). It was not until later that I understood that Easter wasn't just a new outfit with hat. In 1998, I was fortunate to walk the Via Dolorsa (Way of Cross) in Jerusalem. The street was rough and uneven, steep, and narrow. It gives you a unusual feeling of awe and amazement. Seeing the street fired my imagination of the sacrifice and pain had by Jesus.

Lent is the time I realize the sacrifice that has been made for us. How I honor it is up to me.

What Lent Means To Me - 3/4/2012

This is the second in a series that will be included in the Sunday Bulletin each week during Lent.

by Olivia Natwick:

As a youngster growing up in Wyoming I was not aware of the liturgical season of Lent. What I do remember about this period of time is that it seemed like there was one gray day after another. February and March are cold months in Wyoming . It also seemed that most of the time when Easter morning rolled around it was sunny. Today looking back at that time I know that not every day was cold and gray leading up to Easter and I remember some Easters that were not sunny. I find that today for me Lent is a time when I can sit and contemplate how my sins have led me away from a relationship with God. That separation can feel for me like those endless gray and cold days of my childhood. For me Lent is a time of finding my way back to God. As I do this I can look forward to stepping into God’s love and forgiveness on Easter day.

What Lent Means To Me - 2/26/2012

This is the first in a series that will be included in the Sunday Bulletin each week during Lent.

By Brenda Deertz:

Lent is one of my favorite times of year. Spring is on the way and with hope and renewal in the air I try to take this opportunity to grow into a closer relationship with my Lord. I usually give up something for Lent and I look for something in my life that truly separates me from God. That leaves out things such chicken wings, as that is my favorite food (although God knows I could always eat healthier). I want to strive for things more like the year I gave up fear after I experienced a medical scare. In that vein, as these are uncertain times for many of us and I have a lot of worries right now about the future, I have decided to give up DOUBT. This won’t be easy for me and I will not be perfect at it, but my hope is that by removing doubt, I will learn to put more trust in God's plan for me and for all of us. Doubt is, for me, a barrier to God’s love. Hopefully by Easter I will be putting my trust in the Lord more than I do now and freely experience his love.