Dear Caldwell,
Yesterday, our across-the-park neighbors at St. Martin’s Episcopal hosted the Elizabeth Communities of Faith for a noon Ash Wednesday service. As several of us noted afterward, the Episcopalian tradition is so rich in texture in meaning.
The worship bulletin included a brief explanation of the tradition of Lent. In addition to Lent being a time of studying the scriptures and fasting, the note said that Lent “is also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness and restored to the Fellowship of the Church.”
Whether we’re guilty of “notorious sins” or lesser ones, each of us stands in need of reconciliation and restoration, don’t we? Reconcilation with our God, each other and humanity at large. Restoration to wholeness in body, mind, soul, spirit and in relationships.
Reconciliation and resoration also relate to the “kingdom conversations” we began in worship last week. We might ask and pray about: How do we reconcile the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth (if we can)? How can we restore more of creation to reflect God’s will? Those are some of the questions rolling through my head as I prepare Sunday’s sermon.
As a reminder, in Adult Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., we will be having an open conversation about the broad topic of the “kingdom”. In last Sunday’s sermon I laid out several ways to think about the kingdom of God. I admit it – I threw a lot at you. If you missed it or want to refresh yourself, you can read that sermon here http://www.caldwellpresby.org/docs/021912KingdomConversations.pdf
Please keep Troy Bowles in prayer. He is at CMC Main for tests and welcomes any visitors. You may want to call first as he is unsure of how long he will be there. Please also remember in prayer: Don Cowan and Jean Prewitt as they attend to Don’s failing father; Jill and Troy Aleong, as they mourn the passing of Jill’s brother in law; Veronica and Liz Wagner as they travel.
Peace and Grace,
John