Throughout the years I’ve often planned to do something special during the period of Lent. I’ve given up something or fasted, but didn’t do well. I don’t know if it was my focus, attitude, or lack of commitment.
I was a snowbird in Florida for over 20 years until 2021. This meant I was in Florida during Lent and often for Easter too. The church I attended had a food pantry and one year I decided I would take in groceries every week. I would take in 1 or 2 bags (cereal boxes were large). This was a privilege for me and I would do it each year.
I have been praying and thinking about what I might do this year. Due to my health condition and lack of energy I won’t be bringing in groceries each week. I am being led to do something else this year, and I’m looking forward to doing it.
Darlene Smith
Look back and thank God.
Look forward and trust God.8
Upon the Woodland Trail
White pine drops soft, scented needles for a restful welcome bed;
Hickory offers rough, shanty peels under which to shade your head;
Tall, wide oak gives a strong trunk to lean upon;
Maple, beech, and elm set stage for melodious birdsong;
Branch-litter serves a sturdy staff when legs begin to sway;
Leaves filter the floor with moonlight and the golden light of day;
Hazel thickets and flower carpets quiet the outside chatter;
Canopy aged-old with rings bring perspective to worldly matters;
And if still you cannot find your way despite His woodland friends,
Then He’ll carry you himself until your feet and heart can mend.
[and]
Sweet Pea
The sweet peace of letting go
(be still)
and letting them go
(and know)
to just be
(that I am)
a sweet pea.
With love, Meghan Prindle
Believe it or not, Handel’s “Messiah,” which we identify as classic Christmas holiday music, was actually written to perform during the Easter holiday season. My first cousin, Methodist Rev. John M Slater, shared a podcast episode of Christianity Today, which provides surprising details about “Messiah,” including that it was written by two composers, not just Handel, and they were personally affiliated with opposing political associations. (Sound familiar?) The section entitled “Comfort Ye” was an implore for people to donate money for street orphans. I learned SO much and want to share these wonderful lessons with you, especially so you can think of “Messiah” also at this time of Lent and Easter, as it was originally intended.
Blessings,
Margy Howes
from the Prindle Family
My parents gave our kids a book of prayers when they were little. From time to time we would read it as a bedtime story and I always found the prayer below very inspirational for kids and adults alike. We hope you will enjoy it and find inspiration in it as we did.
A Child’s Prayer
God, make my life a little light within the world to glow;
a little flame that burneth bright wherever I may go.
God, make my life a little flower that giveth joy to all,
content to bloom in native bower, although the place be small.
God, make my life a little song that comforteth the sad,
that helpeth others to be strong and makes the singer glad.
God, make my life a little staff whereon the weak may rest,
so what health and strength I have may serve my neighbors best.
God, make my life a little hymn of tenderness and praise;
of faith that never waxeth dim, in all His wondrous ways.
-M. Betham-Edwards
We exist to please God. I believe we often succeed in ways we don’t realize, like a dog can please its owner just by wagging its tail. Or consider how a baby can please its parents just by smiling, or by sleeping quietly.
As a congregation, we regularly confess to God that we have sinned against him in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. Sometimes we sin consciously, sometimes unconsciously. All we can do is to beg forgiveness, and we believe that we receive it thanks to the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ.
Admitting our own sinfulness causes a heavy feeling. Accepting redemption through Christ makes us feel lighter. If we ask ourselves in the evening whether we pleased God today, sometimes the answer feels like “maybe.” Sometimes the answer feels like “probably not.” Yet just as we sin in ways we don’t understand, we also please God in ways we don’t understand. When we ask ourselves whether we pleased God today, the most correct answer is “yes and no, and yes, and no, and yes…”
Miles Putnam
My aunt taught us to look for evidence of God’s presence all around us. The ice crystals on the window, the snow sparkling in the sun, our amazing bodies, the joy and pain in separations and reunions, the kindness of strangers and neighbors, and our searching souls are all evidence that God is our Creator and our Heavenly Father.
-Meghan Wernimont
Favorite Bible Passages
“He has told you, human one, what is good and what the LORD requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 CEB
I saw a video of the first class of the semester, for college first-year students. It was a relatively small class. The teacher asked one of the students her name, then he asked her to leave the class and never come back. She was stunned, but she walked out. The rest of the class sat there silently, also stunned. A moment later, the teacher began to talk about justice, and how they needed to stand up for one another.
I think this is what is meant by “DO justice,” in this passage from Micah. Not THINK about justice. Not TALK about justice. Not BELIEVE in justice. DO justice when unjust things happen to friends and family, strangers, animals, and the planet.
DOING justice is a good way to also embrace faithful love and walk humbly with our God.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I have not stood up for the underdog, the poor, the weak, the defenseless. Make me into more of a champion for those who need justice and love. Amen.
John Schneider
Think of Others - a poem by Mahmoud Darwish
As you prepare your breakfast, think of others
(do not forget the pigeon’s food).
As you conduct your wars, think of others
(do not forget those who seek peace).
As you pay your water bill, think of others
(those who are nursed by clouds).
As you return home, to your home, think of others
(do not forget the people of the camps).
As you sleep and count the stars, think of others
(those who have nowhere to sleep).
As you liberate yourself in metaphor, think of others
(those who have lost the right to speak).
As you think of others far away, think of yourself
(say: “If only I were a candle in the dark”).
He Leadeth Me (Psalm 23)
In “pastures green?” Not always, sometimes He
Who knoweth best, in kindness leadeth me -
In weary ways, where heavy shadows be –
Out of the sunshine, warm and soft and bright,
Out of the sunshine into darkest night,
I oft would faint with sorrows and affright.
Only for this: I know He holds my hand;
So, whether led in green or desert land;
I trust, although I may not understand.
Beside “still waters?” No, not always so;
Oft times the heavy tempests ‘round me blow,
And o’er my soul the waves and billows go.
But when the storms beat loudest, and I cry
Aloud for help, the Master standeth by,
And whispers to my soul, “Lo, it is I:”
Above the tempest wild I hear Him say,
“Beyond this darkness lies the perfect day:
In every path of thine I lead the way.”
So, whether on the hilltops high and fair
I dwell, or in the sunless valleys where –
The shadows lie, what matter? He is there.
And more than this: Where’er the pathway lead,
He gives me no helpless, broken reed,
But His own hand, sufficient for my need.
So, where He leads me I can safely go:
And in the blest hereafter I shall know
Why in His blest wisdom He hath led me so.
– Henry H. Barry
During Times like These by Marilyn Kirking, Lay Leader**
On March 5, Lent begins.
In these times of political and societal upheaval, I am drawn to Micah 6:8, which says “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” Each day we learn about the actions of our national leadership against many government employees, I am horrified to think about the devastating effects of being suddenly terminated from your job. How are these people suppose
to pay their bills with no income. Will they lose their homes, cars? Be uprooted or homeless because they can no longer afford to live in the areas where their jobs are? Who will reach out to help support these people financially or emotionally during this difficult time.
As a society, we have yet to experience the long term effects of these and other drastic measures. As Christians, we need to take action to be true to the values of our faith. Micah reminds us of what is truly important. I hope focusing on this bible verse during Lent will help me examine my own actions or lack thereof and how they reflect the God I choose to follow.
Background
Micah was a prophet during the 8th century BCE, a time of increased social disparities, widespread injustice in Israel and Judah. He was from a small town southwest of Jerusalem. His ministry overlaps that of Isaiah. But whereas Isaiah spoke primarily to the urban elite, Micah spoke to the people on the farms and from small towns. Micah's message calls the people to listen to the word of God. Repeatedly Micah says “Listen, you leaders,” “Listen to what the Lord says,” and “Listen, you peoples,”stressing that now is the time to pay attention. Much of Micah’s prophecy is judgment addressed to the capital cities of Judah and Israel, Jerusalem, and Samaria respectively. Their leaders practiced and tolerated false doctrine that has led to a false understanding of the character of God, and, as a result, injustice towards the lowly, mistreatment of women and children, unjust business practices, and exploitation of the poor, many of whom were rural dwellers, like Micah.
The rich were living in luxury while the marginalized suffered to pay for extravagances for those in power. Even as it declares judgement, Micah’s prophecy offers hope of the coming Prince of Peace. Through Micah’s prophecy, God also promised the future kingdom where nations live in peace and security and where God’s people are fully restored, reconciled with each other and with God.
Micah genuinely wants to know what God requires. What is humankind to offer between God’s judgment and its associated lament and the new restored and reconciled kingdom? To make right with you God, should I bring offerings? Sacrifices? My first born? (Micah 6:7) God responds
Some Christians will fast, pray, and give money during the time
leading up to Easter as a way to connect deeper with God. Others will use the 40 days of Lent as
a time of personal reflection to prepare their heart and mind for Good Friday and Easter.
“No, not your gifts, your words or even your most prized possession. I want you to do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with me.”
What does this verse mean to us today?
Justice
God continues to speak to His people about what we are to do in the face of injustice, exploitation, racism and mistreatment of certain populations. The response of God to Micah is God’s response to us when we ask what is required of us. Do justice. Justice is defined as the quality of being just. It is righteousness, equitableness, and moral rightness. To be just is a call to action—not to be silent or complacent when others, especially the most vulnerable, are abused, mistreated, in need, scorned exploited.
As it relates to our commitment to justice, reconciliation, and diversity, this means examining how we treat the people of God. Those who have been excluded, those whose voices have not been heard, those who have been left behind or left out. Our actions of justice flow from our inward transformation to become more like Christ. We call ourselves again to justice in how we practice the way of Jesus personally and how we live together as a community.
Mercy
To love mercy is to show “hesed,” covenant faithfulness to one another. Micah 7:18 says God delights to show covenant faithfulness. It’s who He is. Only because He has shown us great mercy can we do the same for others. As Saint Thomas Aquinas said, “Justice and mercy are so united that the one ought to be mingled with the other; justice without mercy is cruelty; mercy without justice is profusion.” We should practice justice mercifully. We should practice mercy justly. When we see need, pain, loss, discrimination, bias, fear, or wrongdoing we should respond with mercy, as God has shown us mercy.
Humility
Walk humbly. Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. The extravagant mercy and grace of God meets justice at the cross in the humility of Christ, who gave His very life for our salvation. We have the model in Jesus as well as the call and command to walk humbly with God. However, to do justice and love mercy as God does is not within our own power. We humbly ask the Lord to help us, empower us, lead us, equip us. It will never be easy, especially on the road to reconciliation but it is the road God calls us to walk.
Micah 6:8 is a call to listen to God, to do justice from hearts of mercy and compassion, marked by the humility of Christ. May we continue to strive to be a more reconciling community, to better understand how we could do better, to listen to each other and the Lord, and to be responsive in our thoughts, words, and actions. May He give us strength to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.
I close with some Bible verses to ponder during Lent.
Justice:
● “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” Isaiah 1:17
● “Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!” Psalm 106:3 ● “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one
another,” Zechariah 7:9
● “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3
● “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” Deuteronomy 32:4
Mercy:
● “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36
● “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7
● “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
● “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6
● “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13
Humility
● “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
● “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” Proverbs 15:33
● “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4
● “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” James 4:10
● “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
**I pulled a lot of this material from Westmont College, a Christian Liberal Arts College in Santa Barbara
Preparation suggestion: take a few deep breaths, get comfortable, try to free your mind of worldly traffic, close your eyes briefly and ask the Holy Spirit to comfort and encourage you, and open your eyes and read the words He put on this fellow journeyer’s heart today. Peace, dear brothers and sisters! HGS
Lent devotion from a fellow image-bearer and wanderer on this side of eternity…
Perfect and heavenly God the Father, total and complete loving God the Son, and eternally patient and wise indwelling God the Spirit, You are beyond my comprehension yet my voice is precious to You as I am made in Your image. And You invite me to boldly approach Your throne as your child. Thank you, Lord, for who You are.
You are Creator and Master of this Universe and you are the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. How can that be? How can you stand to see all the suffering and misery in the world? How can you allow so much pain to exist? How can you continue to love me despite my attempts, and often desires, to stand on my own two feet independent of Your hand?
Yet, answers to these questions - beyond my comprehension - are just some of innumerable facets of Your sovereignty and dominion over Your creation. What a joy to be your child! Thank you.
You have promised that You will work all things for the good for those who love You. I embrace this truth and I love You, Lord, though I have never seen You nor touched You, because You continually reveal Yourself to me through the beauty of creation, random acts of love and kindness that you give me the privilege to see, experience, and sometimes even provide. And You have revealed Yourself through the peace that You have put in my heart, renewing it on a daily basis despite encroaching thunderstorms, that surpasses anything that I might fully understand. You are my God.
I ask You to help me find joy in the midst of trials today, Lord, please, and, in the process, grow my faith that I might see You in this day’s journey and reflect you to those around me, giving me the privilege of being salt and light to this world.
Thank you for Your mercy, not giving me what I deserve, and for Your grace, giving me what I don’t deserve - a promise that you will never leave me nor forget about me because I have put my trust in You through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ my Lord, the author and perfecter of my faith. You are my King! I love you Lord! Thank you, thank you, thank you.