This month we experience a transition in the Church calendar as we move from the season of Epiphany into Lent. Through the lectionary (appointed Bible readings) we hear the lessons of Epiphany--the wise men following the star to worship the Christ child, Jesus’ baptism, early ministry in the region of Galilee, calling the disciples, wonders and miracles, and the transfiguration of Christ; all revealing Jesus as the Son of God—and then we make the shift to Lent, coming down the mount of transfiguration to follow Jesus along the way of the cross. During this time we reflect on what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ, facing honestly the depth of our sinfulness, our need for forgiveness, and our calling to sacrificially love all people, serve those in need, work for justice in the world, and participate in God’s mission of restoring the creation. Lent culminates, of course, in the dramatic events of Holy Week, and the glory of the Easter Resurrection; new and everlasting life for us all!

Because this is such an important and spiritually rich time of the year we offer midweek opportunities for worship, study, and fellowship.

On Ash Wednesday, February 22, we will observe our tradition of worship, including the imposition of ashes as a symbol of our repentance—services will be offered at 1:00 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m.

Every Wednesday in Lent we gather for soup supper at 6:00 pm, followed by a time of study and prayer. This year we are going to use the "Nooma" series of video segments by theologian Rob Bell. "Nooma" is a phonetic spelling of the Greek word for Spirit (pneuma). These videos are intriguing segments that ask searching questions about God, faith, and the meaning of life. We have been using these videos for our "Pizza and the Meaning of Life" discussions at Menifee College with great success. I thought using them with the Faith community might be interesting for us all and connect us a little with the ministry we are doing at the college.

Come and join the Lenten journey.

Pastor Mark