Dear Peace Members and Friends,
The season of Lent begins tomorrow. The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word “lengten,” which simply means “spring”—when the days lengthen and new life springs up. It is a time in which we anticipate the victory of the light and life of Christ over the darkness of sin and death. Still, Lent doesn’t have to be grim! It is, to borrow a phrase from C.S. Lewis, a season of a kind of “happiness and wonder that makes you serious.”
And so, just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives, like a wedding or commencement, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering and celebrating Jesus’ death and resurrection.
We’ll begin this 40-day period before Easter tomorrow with Ash Wednesday worship at 6:30pm, including Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes. (This year there will be no dinner served before Ash Wednesday worship).
Historically, Lent is also the time for giving. This year we will join our mission partner VEAP in a congregational Lenten service project: the Minnesota FoodShare Campaign. Beginning tomorrow and continuing through Palm Sunday, March 24th, we will be collecting the most sought-after items: laundry detergent, personal care items, paper towels, and toilet paper, along with food. You can also donate money (VEAP can buy food at a discount, getting 7 to 10 times the amount of food we can buy with our dollars). Our Wednesday night offering will also go toward this effort. Thank you in advance for your compassion and your generosity toward others!
A good Lent to you all!
Mark