One of the important ways we at Central make our days count is to follow the Christian Calendar. Very early in the Christian Church the believers incorporated into their worship something they had learned from the Jewish community, a way to use time for holy purposes. For example: Sunday was not just the first day of the week in which they happen to gather for worship, it was a day of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, the first day of the new creation. Since Jesus was raised from the dead on the first day of the week they understood each Sunday to be a mini-Easter, a celebration of God’s action to make all things new. They chose that day for their worship because of its historical and theological significance. In like manner, they also soon laid out a calendar that enabled them to organize time into a way that enhanced their living as Christians. The calendar was divided into periods of time in order to reenact God’s saving actions through Jesus.
 
In the Christian Calendar the new year begins with Advent, then is followed in order of the sacred events of Christian faith. Advent is followed by Christmas Day, followed by Christmastide until Epiphany. Epiphany is soon followed by Lent, which then leads us to Easter and then Pentecost. We miss the purpose of telling time through these events unless we understand them to be a means to help us live as Christians. They are ways to help us keep sacred time by using our calendar to include ourselves into God’s saving drama. Strength and hope are the by-product of life reshaped by living this cycle of life within a worship community. Step by step we as a community move toward the goal of becoming the kind of people God intends us to be. Such transformation rarely, if ever, takes place in isolation from others and is experienced only by intentional living.
 
On Ash Wednesday we state our intention to be formed in Christ by the placing (imposition) of ashes upon our forehead. By this act we remind ourselves that we are followers of Christ and we intend the Lenten season to help form us into being the people of Christ. For forty days, not counting Sundays because they are celebrations of the resurrection, we will exercise special care (penitence) to submit to God those areas of our lives that need special attention. It is a time of being renewed in our faith as we by grace seek God’s remedy for our weaknesses and sin. It can be a time of healing from wounds that keep us limping along. We can be assured that whatever our need, God’s love is freely given to forgive and to nurture us back to vibrant life.
 
Pray for one another; please include me in your prayers. We all need the grace that God alone can provide.

May you find joy and renewal as you serve our Lord.

Grace and peace,

 
David