Lent Observations for Families

Lent can be a difficult time for families to observe since it is so much more fun to focus on Easter!!! But I'd like to encourage you to spend some time talking with kids about the meaning of Lent: a time to prepare our hearts for the glorious Easter celebration.

One thing we did at Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper was to have kids pot some Paperwhite bulbs and then take them home to have them bloom......in time for Easter! If you didn't get one, I know Family Tree Nursery has more and they are only $1 each! Talk with your family how bulbs have long been a symbol for Lent for they look dead. But they hold the promise of new life within. Jesus did truly die for us, and was in the tomb for 3 days....but when He defeated death on Easter morning, what a glorious day that was!!! Easter truly is the greatest holiday for Christians...and children need to remember it is more than candy and the Easter bunny.

One thing we do in Sunday School is to light 7 purple candles for the 40 days of Lent and then each Sunday we extinguish another candle. As we approach Good Friday the candles are all extinguished so that we remember how Jesus died for us.  Then on Easter morning we light a huge white Paschal candle and celebrate His resurrection. Families can do the same with 7 purple candles or they can merely light ONE purple candle each Wednesday night of Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday. Eat dinner by candlelight. Talk about something each family member has GIVEN up for Lent...or talk about something that has been ADDED during Lent such as a service project or reading the Bible more.

This year families also have the opportunity to provide an Easter dinner for a family who is hurting. The Mission Team has sacks by the West entrance with a list of food to include for an Easter dinner. These sacks can be filled and returned to the church which will then be taken over to the Johnson County Multi-service Center for distribution.  A GREAT way for your family to prepare for Easter is to be sure to come to our LUMC "Walk Through Holy Week" put on by the 2010 Confirmation Class on Wednesday evening, March 31. There will be 2 candlelight tours, one at 6:30 and one at 7 p.m.  This is a free event, suitable for entire families and of course an elevator is available. This year we will have the tours in our NEW Education building......so don't miss this very special night!!  Just meet in the Lobby of the new building. And have a GREAT Lenten season! Linda

Celebrate Valentine's Day!

Did you know we think there really was a St. Valentine?!! Valentine was of Roman nobility living in the 3rd Century. As a Christian, he witnessed the arrest and mistreatment of many followers of Jesus. Legend has it that one of those arrested by Roman soldiers was a young blind girl named Theodora. She was among a group attending a Christian wedding. They were all thrown into prison to await their deaths in the Roman arena by wolves. Theodora's father happened to be the jailor and he was in anguish that his daughter was arrested. Valentine met with her and the others and plotted their escape. Red-dyed parchment notes were sent from Valentine to the prisoners planning on their escape. He encouraged them to remain strong and unafraid and he reminded them of the love of the God who sent his only Son for the world.  Theodora delivered these first "valentines" to the adults and children imprisoned. However, the  Roman guards discovered the escape plans. Valentine offered his own life in exchange for the prisoners. It is believed that he died on February 14, 269 AD. Pope Gelasius named February 14 as St. Valentine's Day to honor this man and his sacrificial love.  We now celebrate Valentine's Day as a day for Romance among couples. But its origins are closer to AGAPE love, the Christian understanding of love for one another as modeled by Jesus' sacrifice for us. There are several different versions of the beginning of Valentine's day but this is the most common one with some substance to it. Have a GREAT Valentine's Day and remember to not only show romantic love....but God's love to others. Linda

Psalm for a Winter Day

     I found myself very tired of winter this morning and then I ran across a "Prayer: Psalm for a Winter Day" in a book entitled Fresh Bread by Joyce Rupp. It helped me see this time of cold and barrenness in a new way.

     Surely I am not the only one who needs a new perspective on what seems a longer than usual winter time. I pray that you appreciate as much as I have.

*Prayer: Psalm for a Winter Day*

Lord God, creator of all seasons and ages,

I praise you for all that is beautiful in this winter day of February coldness:

the strong, black patterns of trees standing tall,

the utter whiteness of snow as it layers the lawn,

the stillness broken only by the sound of a brave snowbird,

the bush under the rainspout drenched in ice.

Oh, all that is glistening with cold this morning, praise the Lord!

All creatures snuggled away in nests, caves, and trees, praise the Lord!

Oh, all peoples bundled in winter wear, scurrying to work, praise the Lord!

Cars, trucks, and buses chugging along the freeway, praise the Lord!

Cows, steers, and sheep on hillsides, braving cold, praise the Lord!

Oh, crunch and crackle of shoes on frosty snowfall, praise the Lord!

All ponds and lakes deeply frozen and lovely formed, praise the Lord!

Little rabbits leaving deep footprints 'neath my window, praise the Lord!

Yes, all the winter world, whose beauty we so often miss,

whose weather we so often condemn, praise the Lord,

and bless God's holy name,

for our world has wonders and tiny miracles

if only our hearts as well as our eyes are open to see.

                                                                                        Joyce Rupp

May you find in the things that surround you voices that praise God for all that is and for all that is yet to come.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Peggy

Read more: Psalm for a Winter Day

The Gregorys Are Coming!

Written by Lane Bailey Thursday, 04 February 2010 14:48

Read more: The Gregorys Are Coming!