Pastor’s Message

Reaching Out from

Grand Lake Community Chapel 

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 

Greetings in Christ!

This is the Ash Wednesday that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let us rejoice in the bright sunshine and brilliant blue skies, let us be glad in the beautiful display of nature’s glory all around us, and let us truly rejoice in warm homes!

This is a very special day in the life of the faithful, a day of transition from the routines of life to the disciplines of Lent; the next forty days can (and should) be embraced as a blessing, and celebrated as a gift, because we have been offered time to make ourselves ready for the joys of Easter.  Contrary to some commonly-held beliefs, the Season of Lent isn’t all about gloom and doom, painful sacrifice, and misery; nor is it about choosing some inconsequential pleasure to “give up” for a few weeks.  Lent offers us the gift of time, unencumbered by festivals and other distractions, to get in touch with our inner spirit and to grow closer to God.  If in order to still your thoughts and focus on higher things, you feel the need to forego a favorite activity, certainly feel free to do so; but as we have suggested in years past, maybe you’d be better-served by adding a daily dose of intentional prayer to your Lenten observation, or trading off a weekly game of cards for a donation of your time to a food pantry or other charitable organization. 

It may sound a bit odd, but we love the Season of Lent because it reminds us to stop and take stock of what we do, and of what we have done; Lent, while a time of preparation, is also a time of adjustment.  May your adjustments be pleasing to God, who is good, all the time.  And all the time, God is good!

Blessings,

Karen and Greg

For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.    Genesis 3:19

Wishing you joy and peace in your day!  Remember, God’s got this.