2/28/2021 Weekly Congregational Updates

/in , /by

Dear Members and Friends of HTLC,

 

Here are this week’s congregational updates:

 

  1.  Earlier this week, our congregation turned 85 years old!  Holy Trinity was formally organized on February 23, 1936.  Happy Birthday!

  2. The March Messenger was mailed out earlier today.  Hopefully, your copy will soon arrive in your mail.

  3. We keep George Mason in our prayers as he undergoes back surgery on Monday in Charlotte.

  4. Sunday, I will be preaching on the Gospel text, Mark 8:31-38 as we take a look at the crosses we carry for the Lord.

  5. As we continue our Lenten journey, below are a few thoughts I have received from another pastor that I pass on to you:

In Christ,

Pastor Fischer

Lent 2021 Thoughts

Lent is a season set aside for intentional acts of repentance, fasting, self-examination and lament as we prepare for the reality of Easter.  The season of Lent is 40 days, like the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing him for the work of his ministry that lied ahead.    This 40 day season (not including Sundays) is one that intentionally focuses us on simple living, prayer, fasting and other spiritual disciplines in order to grow deeper in our relationship to God as we make our way to the cross of Good Friday.  Such practices may be a challenge for many.  So to help you in this process below are some ideas for Lenten practices. 

Fasting

Fasting as a spiritual discipline, serves to both unite us with Christ’s sacrificial life, and by taking things away we make space and time in our lives for activities and practices that deepen our relationship with God.   Another way to think about giving up something you love- food or otherwise is that it works to unite us more deeply with the love of God.  As you consider the practice of fasting, you will want to decide what you are fasting from and why. 

 

Ideas for Fasting:

  1. Consider fasting from a few meals each week, and give the money that you would have spent to organizations working to help hungry people

  2. Consider any particular issue that speaks to your heart.  Is it children, refugees, hunger?  Make time to gain more knowledge about the particular issue you chose and then fast and pray for this particular issue throughout Lent.

  3. Consider the practice of giving something away every day for 40 days.  Donate items from your home, giving financial gifts and or gifts of your time to helping others.  Make a plan- write down what you will intentionally do to give of yourself each day.  Pray and perhaps fast over your list asking God’s will to be done through your practice.

  4. Consider a fast from all gossip and negative conversation.  It’s a practice of self-awareness.  For instance, if someone says something negative about a situation or another person, either say nothing or something positive or nothing at all. This includes complaining or making judgements about others. You might consider keeping track somehow of how often this happens.  This type of fast works well with daily prayers of repentance.

  5. Consider a fast from desserts or sodas or whatever other “extra” food you enjoy.  The idea is that we give up things we enjoy unifying us with love of God.  It also reminds us of the abundance we live in.  This would be good paired with learning about poverty in your community and committing your prayers and resources to help others.

  6. Fast from your screen time.  Set time each day that you will not use phone, iPad and computers, including games and social media.  Replace this time with intentional prayer, devotional time or silence and reflection.  If electronics are less of a challenge pick something that you spend time doing that you can fast from to accomplish the same thing.  Use this time to set aside for other spiritual practices.

  7. As you consider fasting or not fasting in some way, you may want to also consider making designated sacred space in your home.  Daily or on designated days of your choosing, light a candle and spend time in prayer, silence and worship each day.

Sacred music may help as well.  Again, these practices require intentional time and space.  For some, making time in our calendars, may be the fast you need. 

  1.  For those with smaller children or grandchildren, consider putting together a calendar of helping others- simple tasks that can be done each day as way of remembering God’s love for us as we love others.  This is a great way to spark conversation about who Jesus is and what it means to follow him.